Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

North Korea fires two more missiles into its Pacific 'firing range'

Published 02/19/2023, 05:26 PM
Updated 02/20/2023, 06:56 AM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A North Korean flag flutters at the propaganda village of Gijungdong in North Korea, in this picture taken near the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, South Korea, July 19, 2022.  REUTERS/

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A North Korean flag flutters at the propaganda village of Gijungdong in North Korea, in this picture taken near the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, South Korea, July 19, 2022. REUTERS/

By Soo-hyang Choi and Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea launched two more ballistic missiles off its east coast on Monday, with the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un saying North Korea's use of the Pacific as a "firing range" would depend on the behaviour of U.S. forces.

The launches come just two days after North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the sea off Japan's west coast, prompting the United States to hold joint air exercises with South Korea and separately with Japan on Sunday.

North Korea's state media confirmed it fired two projectiles from a multiple rocket launcher, aiming at targets 395 km (245 miles) and 337 km (209 miles) away.

"The 600 mm multiple rocket launcher mobilised in the firing ... is a means of tactical nuclear weapon," capable of "paralysing" an enemy airfield, North Korea's KCNA state news agency said.

Analysts said the warning about the Pacific being a North Korean firing range from leader Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong, could signal plans to fire more missiles further, possibly in the direction of the U.S. territory of Guam.

Japan's defence ministry said the two missiles launched on Monday at around 2200 GMT, reached maximum altitudes of about 100 km and 50 km.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he had requested an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting over the tests, and Jiji news agency said the gathering was set for 2000 GMT.

But prospects for a new round of U.N. sanctions appear slim given the previous vetoes by Russia and China amid the Ukraine crisis and a Sino-U.S. feud over a Chinese balloon in American skies.

South Korea's military condemned the launches as a "grave provocation" that should stop immediately. President Yoon Suk-yeol's office said it held a National Security Council meeting to review the tests and discuss countermeasures.

South Korea's foreign ministry announced sanctions on four individuals and five entities linked to North Korea's weapons programmes over the latest ICBM and missile tests, in what it called its fastest-ever such response to the North's provocations.

The ministry said its nuclear envoy had phone calls with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts during which they agreed that North Korea's provocations cannot be justified and it would face "consequences of self-indulgence".

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command highlighted the "destabilising impact" of North Korea's unlawful weapons programmes, while U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric urged Pyongyang to halt such provocations banned under Security Council resolutions, and resume denuclearisation dialogue.

TENSIONS RISING

North Korean leader Kim's sister warned against increased presence of U.S. strategic military assets following the joint air drills with its Asian allies over the weekend.

"The frequency of using the Pacific as our firing range depends upon the U.S. forces' action character," she said in a statement carried by KCNA.

The United States and South Korea are set to hold simulated nuclear tabletop exercises aimed at improving operations of U.S. nuclear assets this week, as well as annual springtime Freedom Shield field training in March.

North Korea's foreign ministry said last week it would respond to the exercises with "unprecedentedly persistent, strong counteractions".

"Tension on the peninsula is likely to reach its peak in coming months as North Korea is accelerating its military actions with higher frequency, and her statement indicates that it would continue impromptu missile tests using the Pacific as its shooting range," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

Hong Min, a senior fellow at the South's Korea Institute for National Unification, said Kim's mention of the Pacific suggested the North would fire longer-range missiles more often.

Monday's missile launch is the North's third known weapons test this year after it fired an unprecedented number of missiles last year, including ICBMs capable of striking anywhere in the United States.

Kim Yo Jong also criticised some South Korean experts who questioned the reliability of the ICBMs saying Saturday's "sudden" test required nine hours of preparations, calling them "disgusting" and "stupid".

© Reuters. A Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is launched at Pyongyang International Airport, in Pyongyang, North Korea February 18, 2023 in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). KCNA via REUTERS

The launch took place "at the most appropriate time" considering weather conditions and after U.S. and South Korean scout planes went away, she said.

"They had better rack their brains to take measures to defend themselves, instead of doubting or worrying about other's technology," she said. "We affirm once again that there is no change in our will to make the worst maniacs escalating the tensions pay the price for their action."

Latest comments

The little fat musquito is trying to get attentions from the adults
Nth Korea is a China proxy puppet. They use any excuse to justify their nuclear ambitions, but the unlikely goal is to weaken allied resolve in the pacific. The sabre rattling is much the same as China, they want to own and control the pacific and its Asian neighbours. From India's borders right through to Japan, and anyone who resides around that body of water with the dubious name, China Sea. Do you see? It's easier for China to let its idiot errant child cause mischief, rather than directly confront those they see as enemies. What would the world think if China fired missiles over Japan?
Lets just hit them hard and be done with it
Says the 200 lb neckbeard
Weakness in America causes such. Putin only entered Ukraine as ee knew the were noodle in the WH would do nothing just as he took Crimea as he knew Obama would do nothing. Weakness breeds tyrants and nothing is weaker than our current wet noodle.
Oh please traitor trump would have been sending putin weapons
trump wanted to leave nato, Biden and Obama encouraged Ukraine to join NATO. They are the cause for this war and the reason Biden has been funding it.
"Trump wanted to leave NATO..." Exactly. An America shrinking from the world.
Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.