(Reuters): North Korea fired a number of short-range ballistic missiles off the east coast of South Korea on Tuesday, according to the South Korean military. Just days before Donald Trump, the U.S. president-elect, took office again, this missile launch added to the already rising tensions in the region. The missiles flew around 250 kilometers (155 miles) after being fired from Kanggye in Jagang Province, which is near the Chinese border.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of South Korea denounced the missile launch, calling it a grave provocation that threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. The JCS vowed to respond forcefully to any further provocations and cautioned North Korea against misjudging the circumstances.
South Korean acting president Choi Sang-mok also condemned the missile launch, claiming it was against UNSC resolutions. He stated unequivocally that South Korea would not put up with any further North Korean provocations. To maintain a robust security posture and assess the situation, the South Korean presidential office called a meeting of the National Security Council.
The missile launch was denounced by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, which also urged North Korea to stop its illegal and destabilizing activities. Japan denounced the missile firing as well. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed the test and promised that Japan was responding in full, including exchanging real-time missile warning data with the United States and South Korea.
The missile launch followed North Korea’s previous test of a purported new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile, which was the country's first missile test since November 5. The timing of this latest launch is notable as it coincided with a visit to Seoul by Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya.
During their visit to Seoul, both South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Iwaya condemned North Korea’s missile and nuclear development and pledged to enhance security cooperation between their countries. This is in line with efforts to strengthen trilateral cooperation with the U.S. to counter North Korea’s growing military threats.
The missile test on Tuesday occurred just days before the inauguration of Donald Trump, who had previously held historic summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump’s personal rapport with Kim had been a defining feature of his first term, and analysts believe this missile launch could be seen as an attempt by North Korea to capture Trump’s attention ahead of his return to office.
After being informed by the National Intelligence Service, South Korean MPs conjectured that the latest missile launches were intended to distract attention from Trump and demonstrate North Korea's expanding military prowess. In December, Pyongyang had already promised "the toughest anti-U.S. counteraction" during a crucial policy summit.
North Korea's resolve to strengthen its military deterrence against the United States and its allies was demonstrated by the missile launch. This provocative action implies that Pyongyang plans to continue acting assertively when interacting with foreign actors such as South Korea and the United States.
Experts have voiced worries about the possibility of additional regional escalation in response to the missile launches. The missile launches fit within a larger trend of North Korea's military development, as the country has persisted in developing weapons in spite of repeated diplomatic attempts and calls for denuclearization.
Given the simmering tensions between the North and the United States, the international community is nevertheless extremely vigilant about North Korea's military actions. The military provocations show that North Korea is still focused on its defense capabilities and deterrent strategies, even though diplomatic efforts have occasionally resulted in advances.
In order to handle the escalating security threat, regional actors—such as the US, South Korea, and Japan—are probably going to coordinate more in the wake of the missile launch. The missile launch and the political backdrop of the Trump inauguration brought to light the continued difficulties in addressing North Korea's unpredictable behavior on the international scene.
