North Korea Ballistic Missile Launch... Live-Fire and Joint Exercises in Response [Comprehensive]

North Fires Missiles Following Two Days of Slime Balloon Dispersal
Hypersonic Missile Test Launch over East Sea Presumed to Have Failed

North Korea is escalating its military provocations. Following two consecutive days of releasing filth balloons toward South Korea on the 24th and 25th, it launched a ballistic missile in the early morning of the 26th.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On that day, the Joint Chiefs of Staff stated in a text message sent to reporters covering the Ministry of National Defense, "North Korea launched an unidentified ballistic missile from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea around 5:30 a.m., but it is presumed to have failed, and South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are conducting further analysis." The missile flew approximately 250 km. This ballistic missile launch by North Korea is the first in about a month since the 30th of last month.

North Korea has recently shown a pattern of complex provocations. From the 24th, it has consecutively released filth balloons for two days. This is the sixth time North Korea has released filth balloons since the first release on the 28th of last month.

The military is considering whether to bring out the loudspeaker broadcast card toward North Korea, regarded as the strongest 'psychological warfare card.' If broadcasts toward North Korea are conducted, it inevitably leads to sudden actions by North Korea, and our military would have to respond with 'stronger countermeasures.' This is why the military has explained that it will implement measures flexibly depending on strategic and operational situations. During North Korea's fourth filth balloon release on the 9th, no broadcasts were made toward North Korea. The United Nations (UN) Command's request for restraint also played a part.

However, the military plans to continue live-fire training in response to North Korea's serial filth balloon terrorism. On the 25th, the 74th anniversary of the Korean War, live-fire training with the multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) K-239 'Chunmoo' was conducted in the Boryeong area of Chungnam Province. Following this, the Marine Corps will resume maritime firing training this week on the northwestern islands near North Korea for the first time in six years. This follows the government's decision on the 4th to suspend the entire effectiveness of the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement in response to North Korea's serial filth balloon terrorism.

Joint exercises between South Korea and the U.S., as well as trilateral exercises with Japan, are also underway to pressure North Korea. Under the supervision of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, our Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps continuous support forces, along with the U.S. 2nd Sustainment Brigade, 19th Support Command, and 5th Air Force, are conducting the '2024 Combined Joint Sustainment Training' from yesterday until the 28th. The trilateral multi-domain military exercise 'Freedom Edge,' involving the U.S. Navy's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and the U.S. 9th Carrier Strike Group, will also be held this week.