N. Korea Fires 2 Short-Range Ballistic Missiles into East Sea... "Launched from Pyongyang Sunan Area" (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Hyun-seok] North Korea fired two ballistic missiles into the East Sea on the 23rd, five days after launching a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) that it claims is a reconnaissance satellite test vehicle.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that at around 4:32 p.m. on the same day, North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) from the Pyongyang Sunan area into the East Sea. The military is analyzing parameters such as flight distance, altitude, and speed.

North Korea's ballistic missile launch on this day is seen as a possible retaliatory demonstration in response to the United States discussing the adoption of a UN Security Council presidential statement on North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch on the 18th of last month, and announcing the fact of North Korea-Russia arms transactions.

It is also interpreted as a countermeasure to the joint South Korea-US exercises near Jeju Island, where a US F-22 stealth fighter deployed to South Korea for the first time in four years on the 20th, joined by a B-52H bomber.

On the other hand, some speculate that the ballistic missile provocation came just three days after Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Workers' Party, issued harsh remarks on the 20th in response to South Korean experts' evaluation that North Korea's satellite images were 'poor quality,' suggesting this may be a retaliatory demonstration regarding that issue.

Since the beginning of this year until this day, North Korea has fired ballistic missiles 66 times in 37 launches (based on location and time), and has launched cruise missiles 3 times, as disclosed through the media.