North Korea launches new missile into the Sea of ​​Japan, the ninth in the last 20 days

North Korea today launched a short-range ballistic missile into the sea of Japan (called the East Sea in the two Koreas), which is the ninth launch of this type in the last 20 days and another step in the escalation of tension in the region.

“The Republic of Korea (South Korea’s official name) military has detected a short-range ballistic missile launched from the Sunan area of ​​Pyongyang, North Korea, into the East Sea at around 1:49 p.m. local time (4:49 p.m. Thursday GMT)”, explained in a statement South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

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The launch comes just an hour after at least 10 North Korean aircraft carried out maneuvers near the border with the South, forcing seoul to deploy aircraft for a possible interception maneuver, and a day after Pyongyang announced that it carried out another test launch of cruise missiles into the Yellow Sea.

In turn, yesterday the South Korean president, Yoon Suk-yeolsaid that he is considering asking the US. increased military deployment in the region if North Korea conduct a new nuclear test.

A station worker cleans near a TV showing a news broadcast with archival footage of a North Korean missile test, at a train station in Seoul on October 13, 2022. Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch. of two long-range cruise missiles, state media said. on October 13, adding that the weapons were equipped to carry tactical nuclear weapons and had already been deployed in units of the North Korean army (Photo: Anthony WALLACE / AFP)

Today’s release is the ninth of Pyongyang since last September 25, in what is a succession of tests that seek to test its tactical nuclear weapons systems in response to the recent maneuvers of a US aircraft carrier in the waters of the Korean peninsula.

Many analysts believe that new North Korean tests are on the horizon, including a new underground nuclear detonation, which would be the first since September 2017.

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North Koreawhich has kept its borders completely closed since the start of the pandemic, approved a major weapons modernization plan in 2021 and has rejected offers to resume dialogue by South Korea and the US.

In turn, satellites have detected that North Korea It has been preparing for months to carry out a new atomic test in Punggye-ri (northeast of the country).

Source: Elcomercio