North Korea fires 4 ballistic missiles

Weapons fly about 1,000 km, not seen as ICBMs

By Jun Ji-hye

North Korea fired four ballistic missiles into the East Sea, Monday, in an apparent protest against South Korea and the United States’ ongoing joint military exercise, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

The latest launch came 22 days after the reclusive state fired a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, and marks the second provocation since U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January.

This is expected to affect Washington’s ongoing review of its policy toward Pyongyang as hard-line measures, including the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea for the first time in 26 years, are being mentioned in Trump’s administration, according to the New York Times.

The JCS said the missiles were fired from the Dongchang-ri long-range missile site in North Pyongan Province at 7:34 a.m. and all flew an average of 1,000 kilometers. The Japanese government said three of the four missiles landed in Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Soon after the launch, speculation was raised that the missiles may have included an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of hitting targets on the U.S. mainland, considering the location used for the launch this time. In February last year, Pyongyang launched a long-range rocket from the same site.

But JCS spokesman Col. Roh Jae-cheon said the possibility of an ICBM launch was low when looking at the trajectory of the four missiles and their flight distance.

“The missiles flew about 1,000 kilometers and reached a maximum altitude of 260 kilometers,” he said. “It seems unlikely for an ICBM to have been fired, but we need more time to find out what kind of missiles these were. South Korea and the United States are jointly conducting detailed analyses.”

Kim Dong-yup, a researcher at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies (IFES), said there seems to be a strong possibility that the North fired the Scud-ER (extended range) or the Rodong missiles this time rather than ICBMs.

South Korea and the United States began their annual two-month field training exercise, Foal Eagle, March 1, and plan to conduct Key Resolve, a largely computer-simulated exercise, for two weeks from March 13.

On March 2, the repressive state threatened to take its “toughest” military action, warning that Seoul and Washington would face a miserable end if they provoke the North as it is ready to “mercilessly” deter any nuclear aggression.

The repressive state has long been claiming that the exercises are “dress rehearsals” by “hostile” forces for a northward invasion with nuclear weapons.”

Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn convened a National Security Council meeting at 9 a.m. in the underground bunker at Cheong Wa Dae to discuss Seoul’s response to the latest provocation.

Hwang strongly condemned the launches, saying the North’s nuclear and missile provocations are “real and imminent threats to the people’s lives and security.”

“We need to complete the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery by the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) at the earliest possible date to enhance missile defense capability,” Hwang said. “We also need to push for relevant measures to effectively strengthen Washington’s extended deterrence.”

Extended deterrence refers to Washington’s stated commitment to defend its ally by mobilizing all military capabilities ― nuclear and conventional ― to deal with the North’s provocations.

As part of efforts to coordinate with the United States and Japan, Kim Kwan-jin, chief of the National Security Office, held a phone conversation with his U.S. counterpart, H.R. McMaster, during which the top security advisers agreed to enhance cooperation between the two allies to toughen sanctions and put pressure on the North.

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se also held telephone talks with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida, while Seoul’s top nuclear envoy Kim Hong-kyun held back-to-back telephone talks with his Japanese and U.S. counterparts, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ministry condemned the North’s latest provocation, calling it a clear violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and a grave threat both to the Korean Peninsula and the world. The ministry warned that the North would face consequences from its continued provocations and pursuit of its nuclear and missile programs in defiance of the increasing world pressure.

The U.S. State Department also strongly condemned the North’s missile launches, reaffirming its commitment to defend itself and South Korea by using the “full range of capabilities at our disposal.”