[3rd Report] North Korea Fires One Short-Range Ballistic Missile into the East Sea

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] North Korea launched an unidentified ballistic missile into the East Sea on the 17th. This appears to be a reaction to the expression of willingness to share real-time information on North Korean missiles at the South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit.

On the same day, the Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, "North Korea launched one short-range ballistic missile from the Wonsan area in Gangwon Province toward the East Sea at around 10:48 a.m., and we are currently analyzing detailed specifications such as the missile launch location, speed, flight distance, and altitude."

This missile launch came eight days after North Korea fired one short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) into the East Sea from Sukchon, South Pyongan Province, at 3:31 p.m. on the 9th.

Notably, the launch occurred immediately after Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui issued a statement saying, "The more the United States insists on 'strengthening extended deterrence,' and the more provocative and boastful military activities are intensified on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, the more fierce our military response will be in direct proportion."

This seems to be a reaction to the trilateral summit results among President Yoon Suk-yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the 13th in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, during the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) related summit. The three countries, through a joint statement adopted at the summit, declared, "We will cooperate to strengthen extended deterrence against North Korea," and warned, "If North Korea conducts a nuclear test, it will face a strong and resolute response from the international community." The three countries also expressed willingness to share real-time information on North Korean missiles, and in the subsequent South Korea-U.S. summit, Presidents Yoon and Biden shared concerns about North Korean provocations.

Prior to this, during the large-scale South Korea-U.S. joint air exercise 'Vigilant Storm' held from the 2nd to the 5th, North Korea fiercely opposed the exercise by launching about 35 missiles, including one that fell south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL) for the first time in history.