North Korea fired two ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast late on Monday, sparking concern and heightened tensions in the region.
South Korea’s military confirmed the missile launches, which occurred just hours after a US nuclear-powered submarine arrived at a naval base in the South.
North Korea’s Ballistic Missile Launches Spark Concern and Anger
Japan’s defense ministry also reported the launch of what it believes could be a ballistic missile, and Japanese media suggested the possibility of multiple missiles being launched.
The situation on the Korean peninsula has been growing increasingly tense as South Korea and the United States take measures to bolster their military preparedness against North Korea’s weapons program.
In response to the deployment of US strategic military assets, North Korea expressed anger, hinting that such actions could trigger the use of its nuclear weapons.
The United States responded to the missile launches by stating that it was consulting closely with its allies about the situation.
The US military described the launches as destabilizing but asserted that they posed no immediate threat to US personnel, territory, or allies.
The South Korean navy said that earlier that day, a nuclear-powered US submarine had moored at a naval facility on the southern South Korean island of Jeju to load military supplies for an unidentified operational mission.
This recent missile activity is not an isolated incident. North Korea launched a flurry of cruise missiles into the ocean off its west coast over the weekend.
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Ballistic Missile Tests and Commemorations
Last week, the country conducted ballistic missile tests following the arrival of a nuclear-armed US submarine at a South Korean port—marking the first such arrival since the 1980s.
The missile launches coincide with upcoming celebrations in North Korea to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War.
Adding another layer of significance, a Chinese delegation is set to travel to North Korea, marking the first known visit by a foreign delegation since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, as reported by the state-run Korean Central News Agency.
As tensions continue to rise, the international community is closely monitoring the situation on the Korean peninsula, hoping for peaceful resolutions amid growing concerns over North Korea’s missile program.
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