Tensions in East Asia reach dangerous new level
This March 26 file photo carried by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency shows a KN-23 missile being launched from a transporter erector launcher on March 25. The North on Thursday fired two short-range ballistic missiles, one of which is assumed to be the KN-25. |
North Korea resorts to another show of force with air drills hours after firing ballistic missiles
By Nam Hyun-woo
A series of phone conversations between the leaders of South Korea, the United States and Japan following North Korea's latest missile launches demonstrates just how much tensions have escalated in East Asia.
North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) on Thursday, marking the sixth launch in the last 12 days. According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the SRBMs were launched from the Samsok area near Pyongyang between 6:01 a.m. and 6:23 a.m.
The first missile flew approximately 350 kilometers after reaching a maximum altitude of 80 kilometers, and the second one traveled approximately 800 kilometers after reaching a maximum altitude of 60 kilometers. The missiles' top speeds reached Mach 5 and 6, respectively.
Given the trajectory, experts believe the first missile was the KN-25 and the second one was the KN-23, better known as the North Korean version of the Russian Iskander-M missile.
Tensions had escalated further hours later as 12 North Korean military aircraft _ four bombers and eight fighter jets _ flew in formation and presumably conducted a firing exercise Thursday, in an apparent protest against recent military drills between South Korea and the U.S., according to South Korean military officials.
The officials said the formation flight took place south of "a special monitoring line" between the North Korean cities of Pyongyang and Wonsan at around 2 p.m., and they were assumed to have conducted air-to-surface firing drills. More than 30 South Korean military aircraft were deployed to the area in response.
A special monitoring line is an aerial boundary the South Korean military has designated to enable prompt responses to the North's moves. Reportedly, it was the first time that North Korea carried out such a formation flight and strike drill in protest against the South.
North Korea's growing threats lead to regional arms race 2022-10-06 17:01 | Defense Yoon, Kishida warn of consequences of NK provocations 2022-10-06 21:11 | North Korea
President Yoon Suk-yeol answers reporters' questions as he enters the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap |
President Yoon Suk-yeol said the security situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula remains tense, but pledged to remain vigilant.
"Since the situation is not easy to deal with, the USS Ronald Reagan returned to our waters at around 8 p.m. yesterday," Yoon said. "The public would be worried about the current security circumstances, but the government will not miss a single step in protecting the people based on the strong South Korea-U.S. alliance and the security cooperation between Seoul, Washington and Tokyo."
Seoul's National Security Council (NSC) condemned the launch as "a challenge to the international society that shall not be overlooked" and also issued a warning against the North.
"As seen by the redeployment of the USS Ronald Reagan carrier strike group in the East Sea following the Oct. 4 launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile, the members of the NSC warned that North Korea's provocations will only end up facing stronger responses," the NSC said in a statement.
With the U.S., South Korea and Japan having already staged joint anti-submarine drills on Sept. 30, the three sides conducted a combined missile detection and tracking drill on Thursday, which involved the returned USS Ronald Reagan, South Korea's ROKS Sejong the Great and Japan's JS ChoKai.
In this Sept. 23 file photo, the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan is escorted as it arrives in Busan. The aircraft carrier joined a combined naval drill with the South Korean military and Japan's Self-Defense Force on Thursday. AP-Yonhap |
As the North escalates tensions, the response of Seoul, Washington and Tokyo is taking a new form, with their respective leaders coming to the front to address the matter at the highest level.
On Tuesday, the White House said U.S. President Joe Biden and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had a phone call to discuss North Korea's latest provocations, recognizing "the launch as a danger to the Japanese people, destabilizing the region, and a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions."
The leaders also confirmed that they would closely coordinate their immediate and longer-term responses bilaterally and trilaterally with South Korea.
Also on Tuesday, Biden sent a signed letter to Yoon, which noted "the two countries common goals." A senior official at the presidential office said this reflects their close cooperation for peace on the Korean Peninsula and the Northeast region following the North's provocations.
"The three countries have their nuclear and North Korea envoys to handle the North Korea issue, but their role is solving it through negotiations and diplomacy," said Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University. "There have always been tensions surrounding the Korean Peninsula, but the fact that leaders are coming to the front to address the issue shows that the threat has now reached a new level."
Park also noted that the three leaders are being more active in addressing North Korea's provocations, as risks to national security help to unite the public, which is a plus for improving the domestic support of their administrations.
"The three leaders are struggling with their low job approval ratings in their respective homelands. A firm and decisive posture on security matters helps their people to unite," Park said.
(责任编辑:新闻中心)
推荐文章
-
Which iPad Model Is Right for You?
With class-leading hardware and optimized software, the Apple iPad line has long been the default ta ...[详细] -
将于2018年2月1日起人社部、财政部印发的《企业年金办法》将施行又要多一笔钱?你小心脏是不是砰砰跳个不停?先别急!这笔钱不是马上就能拿到你手里与企业年金作用差不多的职业年金实施已有几年时间它们之间有 ...[详细]
-
即墨蓝村镇东辛城村电子商务服务站于2017年初投入运营,以村民为主要服务对象,以公共服务、信息咨询和代理服务等为主要服务内容,为广大村民提供方便快捷的代理服务。一年来,东辛城村电商服务站共组织电商培训 ...[详细]
-
日前,全国科技型中小企业信息服务平台发布公告,我市首批282家企业正式入入库,可享受研发费用175%加计扣除的税收优惠新政。2017年,科技部、财政部、国家税务总局分别牵头出台系列政策措施,对落实科技 ...[详细]
-
NCT member Taeil leaves band over sexual offense allegations
Taeil of NCT (SM Entertainment)Taeil, a member of K-pop boy band NCT, has left the team after being ...[详细] -
雅安日报/北纬网讯7月10日,名山区检察院联合名山区法院、名山区农业农村局开展公益诉讼案件生态补偿增殖放流活动,共同将由蒲某等犯非法捕捞水产品罪的人员出资购买的10万余尾鲤鱼鱼苗在名山区百丈湖放流。图 ...[详细]
-
本报讯第八届中国呼和浩特)茶产业博览会将于8月14日启幕,近日,雅安展团已“出征”内蒙古。我市以“中国非遗·千秋蒙茶”为主题,组织10家茶企参展。我市“蒙茶”展馆面积达270平方米,风格以清新的白色为 ...[详细]
-
一觉醒来,深圳的何先生发现自己的手机被锁定,同时,某购物平台账户遭陌生人盗刷,犯罪分子使用白条消费和申请贷款,一夜间洗劫了自己5万多元。随后何先生发现,自己的手机曾经被一个陌生号码接管。来自运营商的短 ...[详细]
-
Sinner vs. Michelsen 2024 livestream: Watch US Open for free
TL;DR:Live stream Sinner vs. Michelsen in the 2024 US Open for free on 9Now or TVNZ+. Access these f ...[详细] -
曹正鹏文/图雅安市汉源县第一中学以下简称“汉源一中”)的校门很有特色,从外面看校名是汉源一中,从里面看校名是崃山书院。崃山书院建于何时,是谁所建?这就不得不提到汉源文教先贤冯镇峦。冯镇峦,字远村,重庆 ...[详细]
热点阅读