North Korea fires another ballistic missile despite sanctions threats

By Jun Ji-hye

North Korea fired a ballistic missile that flew about 500 kilometers, Sunday, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

This marked the North’s second missile provocation since President Moon Jae-in was sworn in May 10. The first was launched May 14.

President Moon immediately ordered the new chief of the National Security Office, Chung Eui-yong, to preside over a meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Security Council (NSC) at Cheong Wa Dae. Chung was appointed to the post earlier in the day.

“North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile in the eastern direction at around 4:59 p.m. from the vicinity of Pukchang in South Pyongan Province,” the JCS said in a release. “Flight distance is about 500 kilometers.”

The JCS noted the characteristics of the missile were presumed to be similar to the “Pukguksong-2” intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) fired in February. At the time, the North’s state media said its IRBM used a high-thrust solid fuel-powered engine, marking the first time it tested a solid-fueled, surface-to-surface missile that has more than a medium range.

“South Korea and the United States are analyzing the details of the missile,” the JCS said.

Presidential spokesman Park Soo-hyun said Moon received briefings on the issue from his security aides five times including the results of the NSC meeting.

“President Moon ordered the JCS to check usual activities in the North,” Park said.

On May 14, the Kim Jong-un regime fired what it claimed was a “new ground-to-ground medium- to long-range” ballistic missile “capable of carrying a large-size heavy nuclear warhead” and reaching the U.S. mainland.

Calling the new missile “Hwasong-12,” the North’s state media said the missile fell precisely onto a designated target 787 kilometers away in the sea after reaching a maximum altitude of 2,111 kilometers. At the time, the missile was launched from the vicinity of Kusong, North Pyongan Province.

From the vicinity of Pukchang, the North fired what was presumed to be a new type of missile, April 29, but it exploded in the air minutes after liftoff.

Experts said the North’s latest provocation was seen as a de facto refusal of the U.S.’ recent suggestion that Pyongyang trust Washington’s promise of no hostility and conduct no more nuclear or missile tests before the U.S. can consider opening talks with the Kim regime.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made the remarks, Thursday, during a meeting with Moon’s special envoy Hong Seok-hyun, according to Hong.

The provocation was also seen as the repressive state’s armed protest against ongoing discussions at the U.N. Security Council to impose harsher sanctions on the regime in Pyongyang.