[Breaking] North Korea Ballistic Missile Launch... Passed Over Japanese Airspace

A ballistic missile launched by North Korea passed over Japanese airspace. The photo is a file image reported by the Korean Central News Agency in March last year, showing the test launch of a newly developed tactical guided missile. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] A ballistic missile launched by North Korea passed over Japanese airspace.

On the 4th, the Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, "On this day, North Korea launched one medium-range ballistic missile around 7:23 a.m. from the Mupeong-ri area in Jagang Province, passing it over Japanese airspace."

This marks the fifth ballistic missile launch in the past ten days, averaging one missile launch every two days. North Korea launched short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) as follows: one missile on the 25th of last month from the Taecheon area in North Pyongan Province, two missiles on the 28th from the Sunan area in Pyongyang, two missiles on the 29th from the Sunchon area in South Pyongan Province, and two missiles on the 1st from the Sunan area in Pyongyang, all toward the East Sea. Since the beginning of this year, North Korea has launched ballistic missiles 21 times and cruise missiles twice. Since the inauguration of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, this is the ninth missile launch.

In recent missile launches, North Korea appears to be testing and evaluating various types of SRBMs, such as the North Korean version of the Iskander (KN-23), the North Korean version of the ATACMS (KN-24), and the super-large multiple rocket launcher (KN-25), by slightly varying flight altitude, distance, and speed.

Experts analyze that North Korea is increasing the frequency of provocations to verify operational capabilities in diverse environments, collect data, and strengthen simultaneous operational capabilities with the aim of penetrating South Korea's defense system.

Some suggest that North Korea, which had conducted somewhat 'restrained' provocations focusing on recent SRBM launches, may raise the level of provocations by extending the range through launching medium-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) and others this time.