North Korea fired a barrage of short-range ballistic missiles towards its eastern sea early Thursday morning, days after a failed attempt to launch a military spy satellite. This latest missile launch followed North Korea sending hundreds of balloons carrying trash and excrement across border into South Korea.
Missile Launch
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported detecting around ten projectiles, believed to be short-range ballistic missiles, launched near Pyongyang. The missiles travelled approximately 350 kilometres before landing in the waters off North Korea’s eastern coast. In response, the South Korean military has increased its surveillance and is sharing information closely with the United States of America and Japan.
Japan’s coast guard issued a maritime safety advisory urging ships to maintain caution if they encounter any fallen objects. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that the missiles appeared to have landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone and there were no immediate reports of damage. Kishida condemned the launches, declaring them a violation of UN Security Council resolutions against North Korea.
North Korea’s Actions
On Wednesday, North Korea sent hundreds of balloons filled with trash and excrement South Korea. These balloons were reportedly a retaliation against South Korean activists who have been sending anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets across the border. The South Korean military found about 260 of these balloons and advised civilians not to touch the objects and to report any findings to the authorities.
Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and a major figure in the ruling party, defended the tactic. She described them as “gifts of sincerity” for South Koreans who advocate for freedom of expression and promised that more such balloons would follow.
Failed Satellite Launch
These actions also follow a significant setback for North Korea’s space program. On Monday, a rocket carrying a military reconnaissance satellite exploded mid-air shortly after launch. This failure was a major blow to Kim Jong Un’s plans to launch three more military spy satellites in 2024, following the first successful launch in November which was heavily criticized by South Korea, Japan and the USA.
Kim Jong Un emphasises the importance of space reconnaissance for defence and urges his state to increase their efforts and learn from the failure.
Future Implications
The United Nations Security Council is set to meet on Friday to discuss the latest missile launch and the failed satellite attempt. North Korea has criticized UN Secretary-General António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres, accusing him of bias and weakness.
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