DPRK launches another ballistic missile toward Sea of Japan

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
18 Dec 2023 12:12

The South Korean military, represented by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has not disclosed specific details regarding the launch.

This photo provided April 14, 2023, by DPRK, shows what it says is the test launch of the Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile Thursday, April 13, 2023, at an undisclosed location, DPRK. (AP)

DPRK fired an unspecified ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan, as reported by the Yonhap news agency on Monday. The South Korean military, represented by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, did not disclose specific details regarding the launch.

This comes shortly after Yonhap reported on Sunday, citing the South Korean military, that the DPRK has fired a ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan, which has a potential range that could cover all of the United States.

DPRK fires ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, on Sunday, that they detected the ballistic missile launch but refrained from offering additional details regarding the missile's speed and altitude.

"The ICBM-class ballistic missile launched this time, if calculated based on the trajectory, depending on weight of warhead, could have a flying range of over 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles). In which case the whole of the US territory would be within the range," said Shingo Miyake, parliamentary vice-minister of defense.

It "is estimated to have flown for 73 minutes and at around 9:37 am (0037 GMT), fell in the Sea of Japan 250 kilometers northwest of Okushiri island, Hokkaido, outside Japan's exclusive economic zone, or EEZ," he added.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he noted that Japan has lodged a robust protest against the missile launch, communicating its condemnation through its embassy channel in Beijing.

The big picture

Conversely, on November 23, DPRK's Defense Ministry declared its formal withdrawal from the 2018 inter-Korean Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA) via the state's official news agency KCNA.

The withdrawal signifies a departure from the military confidence-building measures aimed at de-escalating tensions between the DPRK and South Korea.

The decision comes just a day after South Korea suspended a portion of the CMA in response to the DPRK's launch of a satellite. The statement issued by Pyongyang emphasized that as a consequence of this withdrawal, the DPRK would be fortifying its border with South Korea.

This move indicates an intent to resume all military measures that were previously halted under the CMA, thereby heightening concerns about increased military tension along the shared border.