North Korea fires 3 projectiles again

North Korea fires three rockets into the East Sea, Monday. / Korea Time file

By Kang Seung-woo

North Korea launched three projectiles into the East Sea, using multiple rocket launchers, Monday, the South Korean military said.

The launch came a week after Pyongyang test-fired two projectiles from what it called a super-large multiple rocket launcher, and five days after its leader Kim Jong-un sent South Korean President Moon Jae-in a letter expressing condolences over the coronavirus outbreak here.

North Korea pundits say its “unfathomable” series of acts are aimed at strengthening its presence in the North Korea-U.S. nuclear negotiations, while trying to pursue a two-way approach of remaining on good terms with the South and advancing its military capability at the same time.

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the projectiles were fired from the Sondok area of South Hamgyong Province, where the regime has carried out many of its launches, and they flew up to 200 kilometers, reaching 50 kilometers in altitude. The North Korean leader is believed to have observed the launches, it added.

However, no other details, including models, were immediately available as the JCS said South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities were closely analyzing the details, adding that the military was “monitoring the situation in case there are additional launches and maintaining a readiness posture.”

The U.S. Forces Korea also confirmed the launch, saying it “would continue to monitor the situation and was consulting closely with our South Korean and Japanese allies.”

The JCS said the launches were likely part of the North's ongoing winter exercise.

“We believe today's test was conducted as part of the North's winter exercises that were also held Feb. 28 and March 2 and it featured multiple types of rocket launchers,” it said in a press statement.

The test came as a surprise as the North Korean leader sent a letter to the South Korean president only five days ago as a conciliatory gesture.

“The test means the North plans to separate reinforcing its military force from getting along with the South,” said Park Won-gon, a professor of international politics at Handong Global University, adding that the North is likely to seek a two-way approach.

In fact, North Korean leader's sister Kim Yo-jong blasted the South Korean government for complaining about the North's recent projectile launches, but one day later, the North Korean leader sent an encouraging letter.

“North Korea is expected to continue this type of provocation given that U.S. President Donald Trump and the South Korean government gave a nod to the North's short-range projectile launch,” Park said.

“To gain what it wants, the North is likely to take further military provocations.”

The military authorities also estimate that the North's provocation is designed to push the U.S. to change its policy toward the reclusive country and it is seeking to take the initiative in its nuclear talks with Washington as well as tightening Kim's grip on power amid growing concerns over the coronavirus.

Throughout 2019, the North test-launched missiles 13 times amid the stalled denuclearization talks with the U.S.