A day after a senior US official praised Washington’s “model ally” in the South, North Korea fired at least two ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan on Tuesday, according to Seoul and Tokyo.
Analysts claim that Pyongyang has dramatically expanded missile testing in recent years in an effort to improve precision strike capabilities, challenge both Washington and Seoul, and test missiles before selling them to Russia, a crucial partner.
Citing the defense ministry, the Japanese coast guard said that it had seen two ballistic missiles fired in the direction of the Sea of Japan.
Citing officials from the defense ministry, the Japanese news outlet Jiji Press stated that the two missiles had landed outside of the nation’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea also said that it has observed many ballistic missiles fired by the North toward what Seoul refers to as the East Sea.
After firing a rocket salvo only hours before South Korea’s leader left for a summit in China, Pyongyang is conducting its second test of the month.
Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s number three officer, praised South Korea as a “model ally” during a high-level visit to Seoul the previous day.
The tragedy of the Korean War cemented connections between the United States and South Korea, longstanding treaty allies.
In order to prevent the nuclear-armed North, Washington continues to post 28,500 troops in South Korea.
The coordinated military exercises between Washington and Seoul are frequently denounced by Pyongyang as invasion drills.
Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, denounced Seoul’s efforts to build its own nuclear-powered submarines with the US last month, calling them a “threat” that “must be countered.”
During his first term, Trump had three meetings with Kim of North Korea in an attempt to secure a denuclearization agreement.
However, no progress has been made between the two nations since a summit in Hanoi collapsed due to disagreements over what Pyongyang would receive in exchange for surrendering its nuclear arsenal.
Before a regional summit in South Korea in October, Trump had voiced hopes for a meeting with Kim, but the North Korean leader had not responded.
As Moscow continues its nearly four-year invasion of Ukraine, South Korean and Western intelligence agencies claim that Pyongyang has sent thousands of troops to fight for Russia.
In the upcoming weeks, North Korea is also scheduled to host its first ruling party convention in five years.
Kim gave the order to “expand” and modernize the nation’s missile production before to that summit.
“With the party congress approaching, the latest launch appears intended to heighten tensions to reinforce internal discipline and consolidate regime unity,” Yang Moo-jin, chair professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, told AFP.
The timing of the launch “may also be a response to Colby’s visit” to the peninsula, he continued.
