Pyongyang's fifth nuclear test may be imminent
By Jun Ji-hye
North Korea fired three short-range ballistic missiles early Tuesday morning in an apparent show of protest against the planned deployment of a U.S. anti-missile battery in South Korea, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
The latest in a series of tests come amid increasing signs that Pyongyang may conduct a fifth nuclear test very soon — possible this or next week. Increased nuclear-related activities at the Punggye-ri nuclear site have been detected by the intelligence authorities of South Korea and the United States.
The South Korean military warned that the North is likely to increase military provocations in the coming weeks.
The allies announced their decision on July 8 to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in South Korea next year to defend the country from the North's evolving nuclear and ballistic missile threats.
The three missiles, believed to be Scuds or Nodongs, were fired between 5:45 a.m. and 6:40 a.m. from Hwangju, North Hwanghae Province, with two missiles flying about 500 to 600 kilometers before landing in the East Sea, the JCS said.
It added that details about the other one still need to be analyzed as its trajectory appeared to have been unclear. A source noted on condition of anonymity that one missile could have exploded in the air or crashed soon after launch.
The U.S. Strategic Command also confirmed the missile launch, saying that the first two missiles were believed to be Scuds, while the third was a Nodong.
"Two missiles flew about 500 to 600 kilometers, far enough to strike any targets in all of South Korea including the far southern port city of Busan," said JCS spokesman Col. Jeon Ha-kyu.
"We believe that the launch was related to a warning from the North's General Staff of the Korean People's Army. We take the launch as an armed protest from the North," he said.
On July 11, Pyongyang warned that it would make "merciless" retaliatory strikes against Seoul and Washington from the moment the THAAD location was selected. The allies announced Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, as the location for THAAD, July 13.
A military official said, asking not to be named, that the North was likely to use Scud missiles to strike Seongju, and that the South will establish a layered defensive shield along with the THAAD and the Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC) low-altitude missile defense system to destroy them.
THAAD is capable of intercepting incoming missiles at high-altitudes at ranges up to 200 kilometers, while the PAC-3 system has a maximum range of 30 kilometers, he added.
The latest launches from the North come after it test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), July 9.
The JCS strongly commended them, saying they were a provocative action that severely threatened national security and people's safety in the South.
"We are closely watching any military moves from the North and are fully prepared for additional provocations," the JCS said.
The North's Scud has a range of 300 to 500 kilometers, while the Nodong has a range of 1,300 kilometers. Scuds are capable of striking the entire Korean Peninsula, while the Nodong can hit targets on the Japanese mainland and Okinawa.
With regard to the possibility of an additional nuclear test by the North, the Ministry of National Defense said that the repressive state is ready to go ahead with such a test at anytime if its leadership determines it should do so.
Cheong Seong-chang, senior fellow at the Sejong Institute, told reporters, "The North probably believes that stronger sanctions would not be imposed even if it pushes ahead with an additional nuclear test as China and Russia are opposed to Seoul and Washington's decision to deploy a THAAD battery here."
By Jun Ji-hye
North Korea fired three short-range ballistic missiles early Tuesday morning in an apparent show of protest against the planned deployment of a U.S. anti-missile battery in South Korea, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
The latest in a series of tests come amid increasing signs that Pyongyang may conduct a fifth nuclear test very soon — possible this or next week. Increased nuclear-related activities at the Punggye-ri nuclear site have been detected by the intelligence authorities of South Korea and the United States.
The South Korean military warned that the North is likely to increase military provocations in the coming weeks.
The allies announced their decision on July 8 to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in South Korea next year to defend the country from the North's evolving nuclear and ballistic missile threats.
The three missiles, believed to be Scuds or Nodongs, were fired between 5:45 a.m. and 6:40 a.m. from Hwangju, North Hwanghae Province, with two missiles flying about 500 to 600 kilometers before landing in the East Sea, the JCS said.
It added that details about the other one still need to be analyzed as its trajectory appeared to have been unclear. A source noted on condition of anonymity that one missile could have exploded in the air or crashed soon after launch.
The U.S. Strategic Command also confirmed the missile launch, saying that the first two missiles were believed to be Scuds, while the third was a Nodong.
"Two missiles flew about 500 to 600 kilometers, far enough to strike any targets in all of South Korea including the far southern port city of Busan," said JCS spokesman Col. Jeon Ha-kyu.
"We believe that the launch was related to a warning from the North's General Staff of the Korean People's Army. We take the launch as an armed protest from the North," he said.
On July 11, Pyongyang warned that it would make "merciless" retaliatory strikes against Seoul and Washington from the moment the THAAD location was selected. The allies announced Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, as the location for THAAD, July 13.
A military official said, asking not to be named, that the North was likely to use Scud missiles to strike Seongju, and that the South will establish a layered defensive shield along with the THAAD and the Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC) low-altitude missile defense system to destroy them.
THAAD is capable of intercepting incoming missiles at high-altitudes at ranges up to 200 kilometers, while the PAC-3 system has a maximum range of 30 kilometers, he added.
The latest launches from the North come after it test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), July 9.
The JCS strongly commended them, saying they were a provocative action that severely threatened national security and people's safety in the South.
"We are closely watching any military moves from the North and are fully prepared for additional provocations," the JCS said.
The North's Scud has a range of 300 to 500 kilometers, while the Nodong has a range of 1,300 kilometers. Scuds are capable of striking the entire Korean Peninsula, while the Nodong can hit targets on the Japanese mainland and Okinawa.
With regard to the possibility of an additional nuclear test by the North, the Ministry of National Defense said that the repressive state is ready to go ahead with such a test at anytime if its leadership determines it should do so.
Cheong Seong-chang, senior fellow at the Sejong Institute, told reporters, "The North probably believes that stronger sanctions would not be imposed even if it pushes ahead with an additional nuclear test as China and Russia are opposed to Seoul and Washington's decision to deploy a THAAD battery here."
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