[Summary] North Korea Launches Ballistic Missile

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the East Sea on January 1, the first day of the new year. The military is analyzing detailed specifications such as the missile launch location and flight distance.

On the previous day, North Korea also fired three short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) into the East Sea from the area around Junghwa County, North Hwanghae Province. North Korea's provocations for two consecutive days are interpreted as a countermeasure against the South Korean military's successful test flight of a solid-fuel propelled space launch vehicle on December 30. There is also analysis that this signals North Korea's intention to maintain a hardline stance externally in the new year.

It is also suggested that North Korea may have carried out the provocations to strengthen internal unity in connection with the ongoing plenary meeting. At the meeting, Chairman Kim Jong-un emphasized "establishing a more intense and confident struggle strategy" and specified the "direction of anti-South struggle," indicating an offensive policy toward the South.

The plenary meeting, which began on December 26 of last month, is continuing for the sixth day, the longest ever, and the draft of the decision document, the outcome of the meeting, was completed the day before and is expected to be released as early as today.

It is unusual for North Korea to continue provocations during the year-end and New Year period. North Korea fired two medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBM), claimed to be reconnaissance satellite test items, from the Dongchang-ri area of Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province on December 18, and two SRBMs from the Sunan area of Pyongyang on December 23. Additionally, on December 26, North Korea sent five unmanned aerial vehicles south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), with one entering the airspace over Seoul, conducting various provocations against the South.

North Korea began its New Year provocations last year by test-firing a hypersonic missile on January 5, but missile launches on January 1 are unprecedented.