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Again, North Korea decided not to remain on the sidelines of global geopolitical concerns and launched, again, missiles to warn that they continue to develop their nuclear program without rest.
In a major escalation, Pyongyang launched no less than , a record in a single day, which also provoked a response from its southern neighbor, which did not hesitate to fire three air-to-ground missiles.
According to the Army South Koreaone of Pyongyang’s projectiles crossed the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the disputed maritime border between the two countries, and fell near the territorial waters of the South. “It is the first time since the division (of the peninsula in 1953) that a North Korean launch falls into our national waters”South Korean Lieutenant General Kang Shin-chul, chief of operations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a statement, adding that the action is “absolutely unacceptable” and that the army would respond “decisively”.
For his part, the South Korean president, Yoon Suk-yeol, assured that this “constitutes a de facto territorial invasion.”
This burst of gunfire led the South Korean authorities to launch an unusual air raid alert on the island of Ulleungdo (east) and to ask its inhabitants to take refuge in underground bunkers.
The South Korean military stated that Pyongyang fired a total of seven short-range ballistic missiles and 16 other missiles, including six surface-to-air missiles.
A national strategy
What is the regime looking for? Kim Jong Un with the incessant firing of missiles? For Francesco Tucci, international analyst and professor at the UPCThe objective is “develop their ability to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles. They want to eventually have an arsenal of missiles that can be a real nuclear deterrent. That is the point. And they are not going to stop until they have this military capacity.”
For the expert, the goal is for their missiles to have the ability to reach US territory, in order to become a real threat.
“The development of intercontinental ballistic missiles is something that goes back to the grandfather of Kim Jong-un (Kim il-sung), because they want to have their nuclear arsenal to reach the United States, and that is the crucial point”adds to El Comercio.
Thus, he points out that the launch of missiles will be “a recurring action.” “North Korea is not going to stop with these tests. There will be more tests that will involve more or fewer missiles, but they are not going to stop, because they consider it a national security policy “Explain.
The tension on the Korean peninsula has increased to dangerous levels in recent weeks due to the insistent northern launches, the military exercises commanded by the United States, and the possibility that Pyongyang, as the satellites point out, may soon carry out its first test nuclear in five years.
Although the figures vary according to the type of classification, this Wednesday’s it is the 36th North Korean release so far this yeara record figure according to the database of the American NGO Nuclear Threat Initiative.
Tucci draws a parallel with Russia’s invasion of Ukrainesomething that is analyzed expectantly from North Korea. “The United States and NATO continue to provide weapons to Ukraine, but there are red lines that they will not cross. They do not directly intervene militarily, everything is indirect, because Russia is a nuclear power. And the same wants to achieve Kim. He seeks to have the same deterrence capacity, and for that he needs weapons that can reach North American territory”.
“Storm Watcher”
Additionally, these shots come amid the largest joint maneuvers carried out by South Korea and the United States, dubbed “Storm Watcher”, involving hundreds of warplanes from both sides.
Pak Jong Chon, a senior North Korean official, called these exercises aggressive and provocative, according to a report in state media on Wednesday.
“If the United States and South Korea intend to use armed forces against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea without fear, the special means of the DPRK armed forces will deploy their strategic mission without delay”he expressed. “The United States and South Korea will face a terrible situation and will pay the most horrible price in history,” he added.
Source: Elcomercio
I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.
