North Korea has launched a “suspected ballistic missile” towards the Sea of Japan, increasing tensions in the region less than a week after testing a hypersonic vector. It is the most accredited hypothesis so far by the South Korean Joint Staff Command, according to which the launch would have taken place from an internal area of the hermit state at 7.27 (23.27 on Monday in Italy). “For more information, the intelligence authorities of South Korea and the United States are conducting a detailed analysis”, the Command specified in the note sent to the media, assuring that the Seoul army in collaboration with the US, ” it is closely monitoring North Korean military movements and is maintaining a firm position of readiness ”.
The moves of the UN
The launch would have taken place from the northern province of Jagang, on the border with China, from the same area where the North tested the self-proclaimed hypersonic missile and another similar advanced carrier in September 2021 on Wednesday. the UN Security Council held a closed-door meeting on Monday on the launch of the Northern missile last week, and after six countries, including the US and Japan, urged Pyongyang to stop “destabilizing actions”.
The condemnation of Seoul and Tokyo
The Seoul National Security Council expressed “strong disappointment” at the North Korean move, while Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, confirming the hypothesis of “an object that could be a ballistic missile”, said he believed “extremely regrettable that the North continue to launch missiles ».
Kim continues with military programs
Despite severe economic difficulties weighed down by the Covid-19 pandemic, Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un said in December that the country will continue to strengthen its military capabilities. In 2021, North Korea claimed successful tests of a new type of ballistic missile launched from a submarine, another long-range cruise, a train departed carrier, and a missile it described as a hypersonic warhead, including skepticism from the US and South Korea.