North Korea Launches Ballistic Missile, South Korean And US Intelligence Conduct Analysis

Illustration of North Korea's KN-23 missile test launch. (Source: Rodong Sinmun via missilethreat.csis.org)

JAKARTA - North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) into the East Sea on Thursday, the South Korean military said, in Pyongyang's sixth launch this year.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected launches from in and around Hamhung, a town on its east coast, at around 8 a.m. and 8:05 a.m. local time, respectively. The two missiles flew about 190 kilometers at an altitude of 20 km.

"For more details, the intelligence authorities of South Korea and the United States are conducting a detailed analysis," the JCS said in a text message sent to reporters, citing the Korea Times, January 27.

"The South Korean military continues to monitor North Korea's related movements and maintain a readiness posture," the JCS added.

Last Tuesday, Pyongyang appeared to have test-fired at least two cruise missiles from the interior, a reported four rounds of weapons tests, including hypersonic missile launches on January 5 and 11.

North Korea also tested the KN-23 missile modeled after Russia's Iskander ballistic missile on January 14 and its own version of the United States Army's Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), called the KN-24 three days later.

The recent series of launches in North Korea come as the United States has stepped up sanctions pressure, amid a protracted stalemate in its nuclear negotiations with the recalcitrant regime.

"The (Kim Jong Un) regime is developing an impressive diversity of offensive weapons despite limited resources and serious economic challenges," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international relations at Ewha University in Seoul.

Certain tests aim to develop new capabilities, particularly to evade missile defenses, while other launches are meant to demonstrate the readiness and versatility of the missile forces North Korea has deployed, he added.

"Some observers have suggested the Kim regime's frequent launches are a call for attention, but Pyongyang is running hard in what it sees as an arms race with Seoul," Easley said.

Last Friday, US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned North Korea's missile launches this month during their virtual summit, the White House said, although US officials continue to signal openness to dialogue.

The day before the meeting, defiant Pyongyang made a veiled threat to lift its years-long moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests, fueling speculation it could engage in more provocative actions in the future.

While in his speech at the UN-sponsored Conference on Disarmament on Tuesday, North Korea's Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Han Tae Song, accused the United States of conducting hundreds of "joint war games", while sending high-tech offensive military equipment to the South. Korea and nuclear strategic weapons enter the region.

"(This) seriously threatens the security of our country," Han criticized.