JCS: "North Korea Launches Ballistic Missile into East Sea" (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the East Sea on the 1st.

The military authorities are analyzing the specifications such as range, altitude, and speed.

North Korea has launched ballistic missiles four times in the past week.

After launching one short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) from the Taechon area in North Pyongan Province on the 25th of last month, North Korea launched two SRBMs from the Sunan area in Pyongyang on the 28th, and two SRBMs from the Sunchon area in South Pyongan Province on the 29th, all into the East Sea.

This is the 20th ballistic missile launch by North Korea this year. They have also launched cruise missiles twice. Since the inauguration of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration in May, this is the eighth launch.

It is analyzed that North Korea conducted this show of force in response to the anti-submarine warfare exercise conducted by South Korea, the United States, and Japan the day before. The three countries held a joint anti-submarine exercise from early morning to evening in the East Sea international waters east of Dokdo, simulating tracking and detecting a North Korean submarine equipped with submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).

The U.S. carrier strike group, consisting of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), guided missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), and Aegis destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52), entered Busan Port on the 23rd of last month and participated in the exercise as U.S. forces.