South Korea: Pyongyang conducts first ballistic missile launch in 2023

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
31 Dec 2022 23:03

South Korea's army says that Pyongyang test-fired a short-range ballistic missile without further information.

This photo distributed by the North Korean government shows what it says is a test-fire of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), at an undisclosed location in North Korea on March 24, 2022. (AP)

South Korea's military said on Sunday (South Korean time) that North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan, Yonhap news agency reported.

The media outlet added that currently, no further details on the missile test are available.

The test fire would be the first in 2023 and the fourth in under 24 hours, where the Japanese Ministry of Defense stated earlier that the DPRK test-fired on Saturday three ballistic short-range missiles, also toward the Sea of Japan.

The launch comes after a year of unprecedented weapons tests by North Korea, including the launch of its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile the month before.

North Korea's ballistic missiles covered a 350 km distance with a maximum altitude of 100 km, all landing beyond the exclusive economic zone of Japan. The Saturday missile launch comes one day after Seoul announced it had carried out a successful test fire of a carrier rocket that works on solid fuel.

Despite heavy international sanctions over its weapons programs, Pyongyang has built up an arsenal of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). According to the South Korean Defense Ministry, the Friday test launch comes as part of the country's efforts to boost space reconnaissance capabilities.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has placed strategic priority on developing solid-fuel engines for more advanced missiles. Kim said this year that he wants the DPRK to have the world's most powerful nuclear force and declared his country an "irreversible" nuclear state.

The wishlist he revealed last year included solid-fuel ICBMs that could be launched from land or submarines. It's noteworthy that, in 2022, North Korea launched a total of 67 missiles, including 38 ballistic missiles, while the DPRK test-fired cruise missiles three times.