Little Kim needs some attention. He is launching missiles left and right. South Korea watches them like a hawk as usual. I wonder if they would even bother shooting these things off if Trump were still in the White House.
North Korea test-fired two ballistic missiles on Monday, with one possibly malfunctioning, according to South Korea’s military. This launch occurred a day after North Korea pledged “offensive and overwhelming” responses to a recent U.S. military drill with South Korea and Japan.
🇰🇵NORTH KOREA FIRES 2 MISSILES!
North Korea launched at least two suspected ballistic missiles early Monday, local time, and also condemned the joint drills by the US, Japan, and South Korea as the “Asian version of NATO.”
North Korea acts in the same way when threatened.… pic.twitter.com/HGabykQUhr
— WORLD AT WAR (@World_At_War_6) July 1, 2024
The Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that the missiles were launched 10 minutes apart from Jangyon in southeastern North Korea. The first missile traveled approximately 370 miles, while the second covered about 75 miles, which was insufficient to reach North Korea’s eastern waters. The destination of the missiles remains unspecified.
Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung Joon indicated that the second missile might have experienced an abnormal flight early on. He mentioned that if the missile had exploded, debris would likely have been scattered on the ground, though no damage was immediately reported. Further analysis of the second missile’s launch is ongoing.
South Korean media, citing military sources, suggested that the second missile likely crashed in an inland area of North Korea, while the first missile landed in the waters off the eastern city of Chongjin.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff condemned North Korea’s missile launches as provocations posing a serious threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula. They affirmed that South Korea is prepared to respond to any provocations in coordination with the United States.
🚨🇰🇵Breaking News: North Korea launched a ballistic missile towards its eastern waters on Monday, according to South Korea’s military🇰🇷
The launch follows the recent South Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral drills, which North Korea condemned as provocative. 🇺🇸
This is North Korea’s… pic.twitter.com/NtcANfyIFo
— The News You Dont See (@Crazynews4real) June 30, 2024
This missile test followed the conclusion of the “Freedom Edge” multidomain trilateral drills involving South Korea, the U.S., and Japan. These exercises featured a U.S. aircraft carrier, destroyers, fighter jets, and helicopters from all three countries, focusing on missile defense, anti-submarine operations, and maritime interdiction.
North Korea’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Sunday criticizing the trilateral drill, labeling it an Asian version of NATO that destabilizes the Korean Peninsula’s security environment and suggesting that it reflects U.S. intentions to pressure Russia and encircle China. The Ministry asserted that North Korea would defend its sovereignty and regional peace through decisive countermeasures.
Monday’s launch marked North Korea’s first weapons test in five days, following the launch of a so-called multiwarhead missile last Wednesday, which North Korea claimed was a successful test of a new advanced weapon designed to bypass U.S. and South Korean missile defenses. However, South Korea dismissed this claim as a cover for a failed test.
These launches coincided with a recent summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang, where they signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement to enhance economic and military cooperation against the United States.
In recent weeks, North Korea has also been sending balloons filled with trash towards South Korea, in retaliation for South Korean activists sending political leaflets via balloons into the North.
#NorthKorea tests 2 missiles, 1 reportedly failed
One of the two launches may have flown toward Pyongyang, Yonhap reported.
North Korea test-launched on Monday two ballistic missiles, one of which may have failed and fallen to the ground before reaching the sea, according to… pic.twitter.com/hlthSSbqv6
— Indo-Pacific News – Geo-Politics & Defense (@IndoPac_Info) July 1, 2024
Furthermore, North Korea commenced a significant ruling party meeting on Friday to address “important, immediate issues” related to enhancing Korean-style socialism. During the second-day session on Saturday, Kim Jong Un discussed “deviations obstructing” the country’s economic improvements and outlined critical tasks for addressing immediate policy challenges, as reported by North Korean state media on Sunday.
Major Points:
- Missile Launch: North Korea fired two ballistic missiles on Monday, with one potentially malfunctioning shortly after launch.
- Timing and Reaction: The launches occurred a day after North Korea’s vow to respond “offensively and overwhelmingly” to recent U.S., South Korea, and Japan military drills.
- Military Analysis: The first missile traveled 370 miles, while the second traveled only 75 miles, with South Korea suggesting it may have crashed inland.
- Condemnation and Readiness: South Korea condemned the launches as serious provocations and affirmed its readiness to respond in coordination with the U.S.
- Ongoing Tensions: The launches followed a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin, aiming to bolster their strategic partnership against the U.S.
TL Holcomb – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
