South Korean officials have typically avoided harsh rhetoric on North Korea to prevent an escalation of animosities. Worries about North Korea’s nuclear program have grown since the North last month adopted a new law authorizing the preemptive use of nuclear weapons in certain situations, a move that shows its escalatory nuclear doctrine.ĭuring his speech Saturday, Yoon said the North Korean law threatens South Korea’s national existence and that Seoul will expand military exercises with Washington and bolster South Korea’s own missile strike and surveillance capacities in response. Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit Thursday to South Korea, where she reaffirmed the United States’ “ironclad” commitment to the security of its Asian allies. The North Korean missile tests this week also bookended U.S. Both military drills this week involved the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. warships conducted bilateral exercises in the area for four days. On Friday, South Korea, the United States and Japan held their first trilateral anti-submarine drills in five years off the Korean Peninsula’s east coast. Indo-Pacific Command said the launches highlight “the destabilizing impact” of North Korea’s unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. Ino called the launches “absolutely impermissible,” adding that four rounds of missile testing by North Korea in a week is “unprecedented.” “The repeated ballistic missile firings by North Korea are a grave provocation that undermines peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in the international community,” South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. The five other ballistic missiles fired by North Korea on three occasions this week show similar trajectories to the ones detected Saturday. missile defenses and strike key targets in South Korea, including U.S. They say North Korea has developed the Iskander-like weapon to defeat South Korean and U.S. Some observers say the weapons’ reported low and “irregular” trajectory suggest they were likely nuclear-capable, highly maneuverable missiles modeled after Russia’s Iskander missile. ![]() Toshiro Ino, Japan’s vice defense minister, said the missiles showed “irregular” trajectory. South Korea said the liftoffs occurred from North Korea’s capital region.Īccording to South Korean and Japanese estimates, the missiles flew about 350-400 kilometers (220-250 miles) at a maximum altitude of 30-50 kilometers (20-30 miles) before they landed in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. militaries said they detected the two North Korean missile launches. On Saturday, South Korea, Japanese and U.S. and South Korean “double standards” because they brand the North’s weapons tests as provocation. North Korea views such military exercises by the allies as an invasion rehearsal and argues they reveal U.S. The North’s testing spree this week is seen as a response to recent naval drills between South Korea and the United States and their other training that involved Japan. Tests seen as a response to naval drills between South Korea, the U.S. Yoon’s comments could enrage North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who in July alleged that Yoon’s government was led by “confrontation maniacs” and “gangsters.” Kim has also rebuffed Yoon’s offers of massive assistance in return for denuclearization. “If North Korea attempts to use nukes, it’ll face a resolute, overwhelming response by the South Korea-U.S. “The development of nuclear weapons will plunge the lives of North Korean people in further pains.” “North Korea hasn’t abandoned its obsession with nukes and missiles despite the persistent international objection in the past 30 years,” Yoon said during an Armed Forces Day ceremony at the military headquarters in central South Korea. In an unusually strong rebuke of North Korea’s weapons programs, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said North Korea’s “obsession” with nuclear weapons is deepening the suffering of its own people, and warned of an “overwhelming response” from South Korean and U.S. SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea on Saturday test-fired two short-range ballistic missiles, its neighbors said, the fourth round this week of weapons launches that prompted quick, strong condemnation from its rivals. ![]() A TV screen showing a news program reporting about North Korea’s missile launch with file imagery, is seen at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, on Saturday.
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