South Korea and Unites States defense officials are alleging that North Korea has fired two ballistic missiles off the west coast of the Korean peninsula, early Friday morning.
It is said the launch came around 5:55 a.m. local time, near Sukchon county, South Pyongan province. An unnamed U.S. defense official confirmed the launch to CNN. The official said the Defense Department has tracked two ballistic missiles believed to have been fired by the North in the Korean peninsula.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said that one of the ballistic missiles flew about a distance of 800 kilometers overland toward the sea, off the country’s east coast. The other one is said to have been detected by radar. Defense officials in the south claimed that it disappeared at an altitude of about 17 kilometers.
As at press time, the north has not claimed responsibility for the launch. In February this year, North Korea announced a successful hydrogen bomb test. This sparked widespread international condemnations against the North.
CNN reports that North Korea fired two missiles from Hwanghae province, south of Pyongyang, toward the sea, east of the Korean Peninsula last week. The Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe reportedly condemned the firing of those two missiles, calling on the North to exercise self-restraint. However, Mr Abe has not commented on this latest ballistic launch. Tensions have heightened to a new level on the Korean Peninsula since U.S. and South Korean military personnel began drills in the area.
More than 17,000 U.S. military personnel and 300,000 South Korean troops are currently taking part in the military exercise. The South Korean Defense Ministry has described the drills as the largest ever joint military exercises in the peninsular.
North Korea has repeatedly warned against the drills. The North said it a blatant provocation against the North engineered by the U.S., however recently, the North warned that it will be forced to carry out a pre-emptive and offensive nuclear strike if the drills are not stopped with immediate effect.
Due to the drills, North Korea recently issued a statement that all agreements on economic cooperation and business exchanges, adopted by the North and the South, are invalid. South Korea responded by ordering the closure of the Kaesong industrial complex. The Kaesong industrial complex is located on the border, between the two countries. The complex has been described by observers as a symbol of cooperation between the two Koreas.
Describing the closure of the complex as a unilateral move, the north said it will completely liquidate all South Korean companies and relevant assets within its borders.
In June 1950, an armed conflict broke out between the Communist-backed North Korea, and the Western-backed South Korea. The war ended in July 1953, resulting in a military stalemate between the two countries. Since then, relations between the two countries have remained hostile.
Observers have predicted that the two countries might go back to war again. Recently, the two countries have focused their efforts on secret military buildups and exercises; and as a result, many believe the two countries are preparing for future conflict.
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