North Korea conducts 18th missile test in 2022

This 18th launch of the year shows that the Korean peninsula is increasing day by day when North Korea’s missile launches are launched with unprecedented frequency and South Korean and US officials do not rule out North Korea. will conduct a nuclear test this year.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected North Korean launches from 9:08 a.m. to 9:43 a.m. local time from positions around the Sunan area in Pyongyang. According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the South Korean military “is increasing its monitoring of the North Korean side’s activities while working closely with the US to maintain a readiness posture”. South Korea’s presidential office said the National Security Council would convene a meeting on the North’s launch.

Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said the launch by North Korea was unacceptable. According to Kishi, among the rockets that were launched, at least one had an altered trajectory. This suggests that the missile can be equipped with an engine that can evade missile defense systems.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the US Indo-Pacific Command said that this was the launch with the largest number of missiles by North Korea. This is more of a show of force than a test of new technology. However, North Korea’s ballistic missile launch this time does not pose an immediate threat.

North Korea’s latest missile launch comes after South Korea and the United States completed a large-scale three-day joint military exercise involving the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. This is the first joint exercise between the two countries involving aircraft carriers since 2017. This shows the upgrade of the US-South Korea exercises in the face of high-frequency missile tests. North Korea’s growing power.

In recent weeks, North Korea has test-fired a series of missiles. On May 25, North Korea is reported to have test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and two short-range ballistic missiles, just days after US President Joe Biden wrapped up a visit to South Korea.

In addition, Japan, South Korea and the United States also said they were prepared “for all scenarios” when there were signs that North Korea was preparing to conduct its first nuclear test since the North. 2017. Speaking after meeting his Korean and Japanese counterparts, Mr. Kim Gunn and Funakoshi Takehiro in Seoul, South Korea yesterday, Mr. Sung Kim – US Special Representative for North Korea said:

“The US assesses that North Korea is preparing the Punggye-ri test site for its seventh nuclear test. This assessment is consistent with recent public statements by North Korea. We are preparing for all contingencies in close coordination with our allies Japan and South Korea. In addition, we also adjusted the combat status both in the short and long term as appropriate in response to any provocation by the North Korean side. When necessary, we will strengthen both defense and deterrence to protect our allies in the region“.

Experts say that North Korea’s recent missile tests are aimed at forcing the US to accept the idea of ​​North Korea as a nuclear power, in order to gain advantages in economic and security negotiations. security.

Nuclear talks between the US and North Korea have stalled since 2019 due to disagreements over the lifting of US-led sanctions and North Korea’s disarmament steps.