North Korea Ballistic Missile Launch Raises Possibility of SLBM

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the East Sea on the 19th. It is suspected to be a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Blue House held an emergency National Security Council (NSC) Standing Committee meeting around 11 a.m. that day and immediately entered a response posture by identifying the circumstances and intentions of the military provocation.

Attention is focused on the background and intentions of North Korea's provocation, coinciding with the situation where South Korea, the U.S., and Japan are creating an atmosphere for a declaration of the end of the war or South-North-U.S. talks.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated in a text message sent to the press corps that morning, "At around 10:17 a.m. today (19th), North Korea launched an unidentified ballistic missile from the Sinpo area in South Hamgyong Province into the East Sea, and the South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are conducting a detailed analysis of additional information."

They added, "Currently, our military is maintaining a readiness posture while closely monitoring related trends in close cooperation with the U.S. in preparation for additional launches."

The range of this ballistic missile is known to have been detected at 450 km.

South Korean and U.S. military authorities are conducting a detailed analysis of the specifications such as the altitude and range of this projectile. If this missile is an SLBM, it would be the first submarine launch since North Korea's successful underwater test launch in 2019.

Since North Korea declared a five-year plan to strengthen its defense capabilities at the 8th Party Congress in January this year, it is suspected that this is part of a new weapon test launch as they accelerate weapon development.

So far, they have conducted four test launches of new missiles applying new technologies just last month, including long-range cruise missiles, train-launched ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, and surface-to-air missiles.

Meanwhile, North Korea has strongly opposed the South Korean government's close consultations with the U.S., Japan, and other three countries on a declaration of the end of the war.

North Korea's external propaganda media, Tongil-ui Meari (Echo of Unification), published an article under the name of Hyun Chol, director of the Institute for National Reunification under the Workers' Party, stating, "Before the declaration of the end of the war, it is only natural to first get rid of the robber-like double standards and the anti-Republic hostile perspectives and policies."