N. Korea 'successfully' fires SLBM

/ Graphic by Cho Sang-won

Missile flies 500km, breaches Japan's air defense zone

By Jun Ji-hye

North Korea “successfully” test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) in waters off its east coast, Wednesday.

The missile flew about 500 kilometers before landing in waters under Japan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (JADIZ) in the East Sea — a significant improvement compared with past launches, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The missile flew about 80 kilometers into the JADIZ.

The latest in a series of launches is an apparent protest against South Korea and the United States’ ongoing joint exercise as well as the two countries’ planned deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system here, officials said.

The flight distance of the launch indicates that all of South Korea could be put within range of North Korean SLBMs.

The military reportedly assessed that the North used an acute high-arc trajectory this time so as not to invade the JADIZ further, which means that if the regime had used the normal trajectory of the missile, it would have flown more than 1,000 kilometers.

If an SLBM flies at least 300 kilometers during its test, the launch is considered successful, according to experts.

“The North launched one SLBM from waters near the city of Sinpo at around 5:30 a.m.” the JCS said. “We assessed that the latest launch showed improvements compared to previous ones. South Korea and the United States are currently conducting a detailed analysis.”

The North’s SLBMs, launched on July 9 and April 23, flew only about 10 and 30 kilometers, respectively, and exploded in the air before landing.

But the April 23 launch indicated that Pyongyang may have acquired a “cold launch” technology necessary to launch a missile out of the water in order to put it on a trajectory for a designated target. At the time, the Ministry of National Defense said that the North would be able to operationally deploy the SLBMs in three to four years.

The launch Wednesday shows that the North may have acquired the technology to allow a missile to fly further as well as cold launch technology, indicating that the new weapon may enter into service earlier than estimated.

Military authorities are reportedly paying attention to the possibility that the North will be able to operationally deploy the SLBMs by the end of this year.

The latest test came after Seoul and Washington began their annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) exercise, Monday. In protest against the two-week exercise, Pyongyang threatened to launch a preemptive nuclear strike on the two countries “if they show the slightest signs of aggression.”

The JCS said the launch was seen as a protest aimed at raising military tension on the Korean Peninsula in response to the joint drill.

“We will sternly and strongly respond to any provocation by North Korea,” the JCS said, adding that the North’s provocation is a clear violation of the U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban the North from any activity using ballistic missile technology.

The launch was also seen as an attempt to escalate conflict among South Koreans over the necessity of the deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery on South Korean soil, being apparently aware that some critics here say THAAD would be useless if the North’s submarines fire missiles from waters off the southern part of the peninsula.

“The North apparently sent a message that it will not overlook the Seoul-Washington drill and that it is capable of attacking South Korea even if THAAD is deployed,” said Moon Sung-mook, a retired Army brigadier general and senior researcher for the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy.

Other observers said the launch may have been aimed at strengthening the solidarity of the regime after Thae Yong-ho, who was a deputy ambassador at the North Korean embassy in Britain, recently fled to South Korea with his wife and children.

Shortly after the launch, National Security Office chief Kim Kwan-jin convened a National Security Council meeting at Cheong Wa Dae to assess the situation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement, saying the North’s obsession with nuclear weapons development will only hasten its self-destruction.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also condemned the test-fire as an unforgivable, reckless act and a grave threat to Japan. He told Japanese reporters that Tokyo will cope with the situation in cooperation with Seoul and Washington as well as the international community.

Earlier this month, the North fired two medium-range Nodong ballistic missiles, with one landing in Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) 250 kilometers west of the Oga Peninsula in Akita Prefecture.

Washington also slammed the latest provocation. Pentagon spokesman Gary Ross said the U.S.’s commitment to the defense of their allies, including South Korea and Japan, in the face of threats from the North, is ironclad.