North Korea launches two new ballistic missiles in the Sea of ​​Japan – Liberation

This latest demonstration comes days after testing a new type of weapons engine, and ahead of a key meeting of the North Korean Communist Party.

North Korea launched two ballistic missiles in the night between Saturday and Sunday. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it had detected ballistic missiles being fired from the Tongchang-ri area in North Pyongan (Northwest) province towards the East Sea, also called the Sea of ​​Japan. “Our military has increased surveillance and vigilance by cooperating closely with the United States and maintaining full readiness»South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff added in a statement.

The missiles flew a distance of about 500km, reaching a maximum altitude of about 550km, according to Japan’s Defense Ministry. “This threatens the peace and security of our country, this region and the international community, e this is absolutely unacceptable»Japanese Deputy Defense Minister Toshiro Ino said.

This launch comes as Pyongyang announced on Friday that it has tested a “high thrust solid fuel engine”which his state media KCNA called a major test “for the development of a new type of strategic weapons system”.

Despite heavy international sanctions weighing on its weapons programs, Pyongyang has built an arsenal of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). All of its armaments, however, are liquid-fed. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sees the development of solid fuel engines as a strategic priority to build more advanced missiles, which could be launched from land or submarines.

The engine test announced on Friday was a step towards achieving that goal, but experts don’t know at what stage North Korea is developing such missiles.

Key holiday meeting

Kim Jong Un said in 2022 that he wanted North Korea to have the strongest nuclear force in the world and said “irreversible” his country’s status as a nuclear state.

The isolated country’s political guidelines for 2023 are due to be presented in December at a key party meeting. KCNA reported that according to Kim Jong Un, the year 2023 would be a “historic year”.

In his last speech, published for the last New Year’s Eve, he focused on internal affairs. Experts say that while last time Kim Jong Un refrained from addressing the United States directly, this time he may change his tune.

Pyongyang has conducted a record series of weapons tests this year, including its most advanced ballistic missile. The United States and South Korea have been warning for months that North Korea may be planning what would be its seventh nuclear test in its history and first in five years.

North Korea has been subject to multiple United Nations Security Council sanctions over its nuclear and missile program since 2006.