US Forces Emphasize 'Ironclad Defense' Against North Korean Missiles... Deny Immediate Threat

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) strongly condemned North Korea's ballistic missile launches and urged an end to the provocative actions.

The North Korean Missile General Bureau conducted a test launch of a new hypersonic medium-to-long-range ballistic missile on the 6th, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 7th. The agency stated that Chairman Kim Jong-un observed the launch through a video monitoring system. Yonhap News Agency

On the 14th, INDOPACOM stated in a press release, "We are aware of North Korea's successive ballistic missile launches and are closely consulting with regional allies and partners, including South Korea and Japan."

It added, "The United States strongly condemns these illegal and destabilizing actions and calls on North Korea to immediately cease such activities."

Furthermore, it said, "We assess that this incident does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel, territory, or our allies," but emphasized, "We are closely monitoring the situation." It also reaffirmed, "The United States' commitment to the defense of South Korea and Japan remains ironclad."

On the same day, around 9:30 a.m., North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) from the Kangye area in Jagang Province toward the East Sea. This occurred eight days after the mid-range solid-fuel hypersonic ballistic missile launch near Pyongyang on the 6th.