North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles in a defiant show of force that coincided with a visit to Seoul by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for a Summit for Democracy.
North Korea fired three ballistic missiles Monday toward waters off its east coast that reached a maximum altitude of about 50 kilometers (31 miles) and flew some 350 km to land outside of Japan’s exclusive economic zone, the Ministry of Defense in Tokyo said. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message to reporters about the launch that several short-range ballistic missiles were fired from around 7:44 a.m. from near Pyongyang that flew about 300 km.
The US, South Korea and Japan all condemned North Korea’s first ballistic missile test in about two months, calling it a threat to regional security and a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.
It is unclear what was in the barrage. North Korea, which often comments on missile launches the following day, has been known to engage in provocations designed to coincide with high-profile political events involving the US, South Korea and Japan.
Pyongyang’s propaganda apparatus slammed the ideals advanced by the US ahead of the Summit for Democracy, which was launched under the Biden administration as a way for leaders to show solidarity. North Korea’s main newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, said US-style democracy is the “sinister intention of imperialists” to consolidate power around US-led Western forces, in an article over the weekend ahead of the summit.
Kim Jong Un and his official media have been lashing out frequently at the US and South Korea, with the North Korean leader saying the time for peaceful unification is over and striking the concept from the country’s constitution.
In mid-January, Kim’s regime tested a ballistic missile, firing off an intermediate-range rocket designed to strike US bases in Asia. The state’s official media said that projectile was a “hypersonic” missile, indicating it deployed a reentry vehicle for carrying a nuclear warhead that can change its flight path at high speeds.
Prior to the latest launch, Kim guided military drills that included fire from an artillery unit capable of hitting Seoul, overseeing training that simulated storming a South Korean border guard post and driving the country’s newest tank. The joint military training with the US coincided with the heightened threats against his neighbor to the south.
The US and South Korea concluded their annual Freedom Shield exercises on March 14, which included training on land, sea, and in the air against contingencies posed by North Korea. Pyongyang has been defending joint drills for decades, calling them a prelude to an invasion.
Kim said in February he has the legal right to annihilate South Korea. Kim has also shown no inclination that he wants to return to stalled nuclear disarmament talks and has rolled out a series of new weapons designed to deliver nuclear strikes on the US and its allies in Asia.
There has been some speculation that Kim has turned around from his bellicose outbursts and is now ready for battle. US President Joe Biden has warned Kim that trying to launch a nuclear attack would mean the end of his regime.
It appears that Kim is transferring a significant amount of weapons to Russia for President Vladimir Putin’s use in his war on Ukraine. The arms include artillery shells and ballistic missiles, as stated by the US and South Korea. Russia is likely providing technology, key materials, and commodities to Kim that could help him expand the economy and increase his military strength.
