Malfunction of Missile Battery on Ship
Both Maritime and Air Routes Closed
A missile battery installed on a Danish Navy ship malfunctioned, completely blocking the Storebælt Strait, a major strait in Denmark and a key passage in the Baltic Sea. The Danish military announced that the missile battery did not stop even after training, raising concerns that it could potentially attack ships and aircraft moving nearby, leading to the closure of the strait. This route is a major gateway from the North Sea to the Baltic Sea, with tens of thousands of vessels passing through daily. In particular, since this route is used for exporting Russian oil to Asian regions such as China and India, a prolonged blockade of the strait is expected to deal a significant blow to Russian oil exports.
Missile battery remains active after training... "Concerns over interception of ships and aircraft"
According to CNN on the 4th (local time), the Danish military stated in a press release, "The Harpoon missile launcher mounted on a frigate at Korsør Naval Base has not been deactivated after a test launch, and experts have been convened to discuss resolving the issue." They further warned, "Until the missile launcher stops, there is a risk that missiles could fly several kilometers toward ships or aircraft passing through the area, causing damage."
The Korsør Naval Base, where the incident occurred, is located in the Storebælt Strait connecting Zealand Island, where Denmark’s capital Copenhagen is situated, and the Jutland Peninsula on the mainland. The Danish military has closed the Storebælt Strait area for maritime and aviation safety. However, they added that the missile does not have a warhead loaded, so there is no risk of explosion.
The Danish police and maritime authorities, after receiving reports of the incident from the navy, have notified vessels heading toward the danger zone and requested them to wait until the problem is resolved.
This incident has put the Danish military’s credibility at further risk. The day before, another ship experienced a weapons system malfunction, which led to the dismissal of Defense Minister Flemming Lentfer. The missile battery malfunction occurred just one day after the defense minister was fired.
Essential gateway to the Baltic Sea blocked... Russian oil exports expected to be impacted
The malfunction has paralyzed maritime and air traffic in the Storebælt Strait area, causing significant disruptions to logistics and transportation in the Nordic region. The Storebælt Strait is a gateway from the North Sea to the Baltic Sea, with tens of thousands of trade vessels passing through daily.
Especially after the Russia-Ukraine war and the sanctions against Russia, Russia has become increasingly dependent on exporting oil to China and India via oil tankers. If the blockade of the strait continues for a long time, economic damage to Russia is inevitable.
According to data from the Russian Customs Service, Russia’s exports to Europe last year fell by 68% year-on-year to $84.9 billion (approximately 113.46 trillion KRW). However, exports to Asia, including China and India, which have become major energy customers replacing Europe, increased by 5.6% to $306.6 billion.
Concerns have also been raised that this situation could affect the recent rise in international oil prices amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. On this day, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) closed at $86.59 per barrel, up 1.36% from the previous session. North Sea Brent crude also rose 1.45% to $90.65 per barrel compared to the previous day.
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