North Korea launches 3 missiles, South Korea threatens stronger deterrence

People in Seoul, South Korea, watch news about North Korea’s launch of 3 missiles, May 25 – Photo: REUTERS

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said three missiles were launched in less than an hour from the Sunan area of ​​the capital Pyongyang at around 6 a.m. on May 25.

According to the JCS, the first missile launched appeared to be an ICBM, while the second appeared to have crashed midway, and the third was a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM).

South Korea’s military said the country and the United States will hold joint military drills, including testing surface-to-surface missiles and putting their troops on peak readiness.

“While strengthening surveillance and vigilance operations, our military, in close cooperation with the United States, is maintaining the highest level of readiness,” the JCS said in a statement.

U.S. and South Korean officials recently warned that North Korea could test weapons during Biden’s Asia tour.

This is Biden’s first trip to Asia as US president, including meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, an official visit to Japan and attending the Diamond Quad Summit – QUAD .

Mr. Yoon, who took office on May 10, convened the first meeting of the National Security Council. The panel strongly condemned the latest launch as a “serious provocation”, especially as it came after Mr Biden’s return to the country.

Mr. Yoon ordered his subordinates to strengthen America’s expanded deterrence and combine the defensive posture as agreed with Mr. Biden.

“North Korea’s provocations will only lead to the ROK-US deterrence being even stronger and faster and causing them to isolate themselves,” Yoon’s government said.

Meanwhile, the Japan Coast Guard has warned of the possibility of ballistic missile launches from North Korea, asking ships to stay away from objects falling into the sea.

Japan’s defense minister said one of the missiles flew about 750km, reached a maximum altitude of 50km and appeared to be capable of changing its trajectory during flight. Another rocket flew about 300km and reached a maximum altitude of 550km.

According to NHK, the missiles appeared to have fallen outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said Tokyo is currently gathering information on Pyongyang’s moves.

On the same day, the US military insisted that North Korea’s missile launches did not pose a direct threat to the US or its allies. A White House official said that Mr. Biden was briefed on the launches.

North Korea has conducted a series of missile launches this year, from hypersonic weapons to its biggest ICBM launch test for the first time in nearly five years, according to Reuters. The May 25 launch is the 17th launch since the beginning of this year.

Pyongyang also appears to be preparing for its first nuclear test since 2017.