North Korea fires ballistic missiles into the sea just hours prior to South Korean leader’s visit to China
On Sunday, North Korea fired several ballistic missiles into the sea, as reported by its neighbors, only hours before South Korea’s president was scheduled to depart for China for discussions anticipated to address North Korea’s nuclear agenda. South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff released a statement indicating that multiple missile launches were detected from the capital area of North Korea around 7:50 am. The ballistic missiles reportedly traveled approximately 900 km (560 miles), and South Korean and US officials were analyzing further details regarding the launches. The joint chiefs emphasized that South Korea was prepared to thwart any provocations from North Korea and was engaged in close information exchanges with the US and Japan regarding the missile firings. The military noted that the missiles “traveled approximately 900 kilometres,” adding that South Korea and the US were “thoroughly analyzing the specifications” while “maintaining a full readiness posture.” Following the launch, Seoul’s national security council held an emergency meeting, with a statement from the presidential office labeling the action as “a provocative act in violation of UN security council resolutions.” Japan’s defense ministry also reported a possible ballistic missile detection, highlighting that two missiles ascended to an altitude of 50 km and traveled distances of 900 and 950 kilometers respectively. “North Korea’s nuclear and missile development poses a threat to the peace and stability of both our nation and the international community, and is entirely unacceptable,” Japan’s defense minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, stated to the media. News of the missile launch displayed on a screen at a station in Seoul, South Korea this Sunday. Photograph: Jeon Heon-Kyun/EPA. This marks Pyongyang’s first ballistic missile launch since November, following a test that occurred after US President Donald Trump approved South Korea’s initiative to construct a nuclear-powered submarine. An analyst suggested that Trump’s military actions against Venezuela on Saturday may have influenced the decision to conduct the launch. For decades, Pyongyang has maintained that its nuclear and missile programs are necessary as a deterrent against what it perceives as efforts by Washington aimed at regime change. The US has consistently provided assurances to Pyongyang that it has no such intentions. “They likely worry that if the United States opts to do so, it could execute a precision strike in an instant, jeopardizing the regime’s survival,” remarked Hong Min, an analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification. This test occurred mere hours before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung was to leave for Beijing for talks with his counterpart Xi Jinping, whose government plays an essential role as an economic supporter of North Korea. Lee aims to potentially leverage China’s influence over North Korea to aid his efforts to enhance relations with Pyongyang. Pyongyang is also preparing for a significant congress of its ruling party in the upcoming weeks, the first in five years. Economic strategies, along with defense and military planning, are expected to dominate the agenda. In anticipation of this gathering, leader Kim Jong-un directed the “expansion” and modernization of the nation’s missile manufacturing capabilities and the establishment of additional factories to satisfy rising demand. State media announced on Sunday that Kim had visited a facility focused on the production of tactical guided weapons. He instructed officials to increase existing production capacity by 250%, as reported by the state-controlled Korean Central News Agency.
Published: 2026-01-04 03:50:00
source: www.theguardian.com
