North Korea fires ballistic missile towards Japan
North Korea’s Missile Launch
North Korea fired a ballistic missile off its east coast towards Japan on Wednesday, according to South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff. This action by North Korea followed threats of retaliation for alleged US spy plane flights. The missile flew approximately 1,000km (621 miles) before crashing into the water, as reported by South Korea’s military. Japan’s chief cabinet secretary stated that the missile came down about 250km west of Okushiri island in Japan’s northernmost Hokkaido prefecture. The missile’s flight took 74 minutes and reached an altitude of more than 6,000km.
Trilateral Meeting and Planned Launch
The missile launch took place during a rare trilateral meeting between the top US general, his South Korean counterpart, and his Japanese counterpart in Hawaii. Colonel Dave Butler, a spokesman for Gen Mark Milley, confirmed that the North Korean launch occurred at the conclusion of the meeting, which had been long planned. The meeting aimed to foster closer cooperation between the US, South Korea, and Japan in countering the rising threats posed by China and North Korea.
Strained Relations and Missile Assessment
South Korea and Japan have been facing strained relations due to disputes stemming from Japan’s occupation of Korea between 1910 and 1945. Experts have suggested that North Korea likely tested its developmental, road-mobile Hwasong-18 ICBM during this missile launch. The Hwasong-18 is a solid-fuel weapon that is more difficult to detect and intercept compared to North Korea’s other liquid-fuel ICBMs. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has previously referred to the Hwasong-18 as his most powerful nuclear weapon.
High-Angle Launch and Countermeasures
Assessments from South Korea and Japan indicate that the missile was launched on a high angle, possibly as an attempt to avoid neighboring countries. This launch marks North Korea’s 12th ballistic missile launch this year. In April, the regime test-fired its first-ever solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile. Additionally, at the end of May, North Korea conducted a failed attempt to launch what it claimed was its first-ever spy satellite using a new launch vehicle. South Korea recently announced that it had recovered the satellite wreckage from the ocean and determined that it had “no military utility as a reconnaissance satellite at all.”
Recent Complaints and Tensions
The latest missile launch by North Korea follows a series of heated complaints made by the country over US military activities. North Korea has accused American spy planes of violating its airspace and condemned the recent visit of an American nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine to South Korea. Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of Kim Jong-un, threatened “shocking” consequences over US reconnaissance activity, claiming that a US spy plane flew over North Korea’s eastern exclusive economic zone eight times in a day. The US and South Korea have dismissed these accusations and urged North Korea to refrain from any acts or rhetoric that raise tensions.
UN Resolutions and Military Displays
UN Security Council resolutions prohibit North Korea from using ballistic missile technology, including for satellite launches. Several countries, along with the Security Council, have imposed sanctions on North Korea for its missile and nuclear weapons programs. Analysts have observed commercial satellite imagery indicating that North Korea is expected to stage displays of military force, including a large parade, in the coming days. These displays are planned to commemorate North Korea’s claim to victory in the 1950-1953 Korean War against the US, South Korea, and their allies.