North Korea fires ballistic missile ahead of planned military drills

121
3
North Korea fires ballistic missile ahead of planned military drills

North Korea fired a ballistic missile ahead of planned military drills by South Korean and US forces and a visit by US Vice-President Kamala Harris to the region.

South Korea's military said a single, short-range ballistic missile was fired from near the Taechon area of North Pyongyan Province towards the sea just before 7 am on Sunday.

Japanese Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada said it had reached maximum altitude of 50 kilometres and may have flown on an irregular trajectory.

Hamada said it fell outside Japan's exclusive economic zone and there were no reports of problems with shipping or air traffic.

If you include launches of cruise missiles, this is the nineteenth launch, which is an unprecedented pace, he said.

North Korea's actions are a threat to the peace and security of our country, the region, and the international community, and are unforgivable as the Ukraine invasion unfolds. The launch comes after the arrival of the nuclear-powered American aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan in South Korea to participate in joint drills with South Korean forces, and ahead of a planned visit to Seoul this week by Ms Harris.

The US Indo-pacific command said it was aware of the launch and was consulting with its allies.

The missile launch highlights the destabilising impact of the DPRK's unlawful Weapons of Mass Destruction and ballistic missile programs, and we have concluded that this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or our allies.

It was the first time that the North had carried out such a launch after firing eight short-range ballistic missiles in one day in early June, which led to the United States calling for more sanctions for violating UN Security Council resolutions.

North Korea opposes UN resolutions as an infringement of its sovereign right to self defence and space exploration, and has criticised previous joint drills by the US and South Korea as proof of their hostile policies.

The drills have been criticised by Russia and China, which have called for all sides not to take measures that raise tensions in the region, and have called for an easing of sanctions.

After North Korea conducted a record number of missile tests earlier this year, including its intercontinental ballistic missiles for the first time since 2017, the US and South Korea said they would boost joint drills and military displays of power to deter Pyongyang.

Defence exercises are not going to prevent North Korean missile tests, said Leif-Eric Easley, an international affairs professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

He said that US-South Korea security cooperation helped deter North Korea's attack and counter Pyongyang's coercion.

The allies should not let provocations stop them from conducting military training and exchanges necessary to maintain the alliance, he said.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported on Saturday that North Korea may also be preparing to test a submarine-launched ballistic missile, citing the South's military.