Opposition to Taeguk Exercise 'Prepared for North Korean Threat'
[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] North Korea resumed military provocations by launching missiles after four days. It is analyzed to be aimed at the US midterm elections, and it also appears to be a response to South Korea's Taeguk Exercise.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on the afternoon of the 9th that North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile into the East Sea. The military is analyzing detailed specifications such as the missile launch location, speed, flight distance, and altitude.
North Korea launched about 35 missiles from the 2nd to the 5th during the South Korea-US joint air exercise 'Vigilant Storm' and resumed ballistic missile provocations after four days. The South Korean military is conducting the Taeguk Exercise for the third day to prepare for various threats from North Korea, including nuclear and missile threats, and the missile provocation resumed at the time when the US midterm election vote counting is in full swing.
Previously, North Korea criticized the Taeguk Exercise through various propaganda media, stating, "Just because it is a computer simulation exercise does not mean its aggressive, offensive nature and danger disappear."
Meanwhile, on the morning of the 5th at around 11:32, North Korea launched four short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) from the Dongrim area in North Pyongan Province toward the West Sea. On the 3rd, at around 7:40 a.m., an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) presumed to be the 'Hwasong-17' was launched from the Sunan area in Pyongyang, and at around 8:39 a.m., two SRBMs were launched toward the East Sea from the Kaechon area in South Pyongan Province. Additionally, at around 9:35 p.m., three SRBMs presumed to be old liquid-fueled missiles like the Scud-C were launched from the Goksan area in North Hwanghae Province.
Earlier, on the 2nd, North Korea fired about 25 missiles in four rounds over 10 hours, including launching missiles south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the East Sea for the first time since the division. Among the three missiles launched from Wonsan, Gangwon Province, at around 8:51 a.m., one headed toward Ulleungdo and fell 26 km south of the NLL, 57 km east of Sokcho, and 167 km northwest of Ulleungdo in the sea area, prompting an unprecedented air raid alert on Ulleungdo.
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