[Comprehensive] North Korea Fires 2 Short-Range Ballistic Missiles... Possible North Korean Version of Iskander

Provocative Response by US Aircraft Carrier After 8 Days

On the 27th, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) into the East Sea. This provocation came just eight days after firing one 'North Korean version of Iskander' SRBM on the 19th, which was claimed to be a 'simulated nuclear warhead airburst' test.

North Korea conducted a "test firing of a new large-caliber guided multiple rocket launcher" under the leadership of Chairman Kim Jong-un on the 31st of last month, according to a report by Korean Central TV on the 1st. The photo was released by Central TV on the same day, with the launch platform (red circle) mosaicked.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that on this day, starting around 7:47 a.m., they detected two short-range ballistic missiles launched by North Korea from the Junghwa area in North Hwanghae Province toward the East Sea. Considering the flight distance and other factors, it is believed that the missiles were likely the 'North Korean version of Iskander' (KN-23).

There is also speculation that the range was adjusted to match the distance over the East Sea, where training involving an aircraft carrier is expected. Junghwa, the launch site of the missiles, is located adjacent to the south of Pyongyang.

This ballistic missile launch appears to be a retaliatory response to the South Korea-U.S. joint amphibious landing exercises and the deployment of U.S. aircraft carriers. Since the 20th of last month until the 3rd of next month, South Korea and the U.S. have been conducting the joint amphibious landing exercise 'Ssangryong Training' involving division-level landing forces, the large transport ship Dokdo (LPH, 14,500 tons), and the U.S. Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD-8, 42,000 tons).

North Korea is extremely sensitive to the 'Ssangryong Training' due to its offensive nature involving large-scale coastal infiltration by troops. Additionally, the U.S. Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is deployed on the Korean Peninsula this week, and joint carrier strike group exercises are planned. North Korea fired ballistic missiles into the East Sea, where the carrier exercises are expected to take place.

There are concerns about further provocations by North Korea in response to this week's joint amphibious landing exercises and U.S. carrier deployments. Some speculate that North Korea might conduct launches of solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), ICBM launches at normal trajectories (30?45 degrees), military reconnaissance satellite launches, or even a seventh nuclear test.

North Korea has continuously provoked during the South Korea-U.S. joint exercise 'Freedom Shield' (FS), which took place from the 12th to the 23rd of last month. Four days before the main FS exercise began, on the 9th, North Korea launched a 'new tactical guided weapon' SRBM; on the 12th, a submarine-launched cruise missile; on the 14th, another SRBM; on the 16th, an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM); and on the 19th, another SRBM. Each time North Korea launches missiles, it openly demonstrates their nuclear delivery capability, thereby threatening South Korea with nuclear weapons.