TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – North Korea launch intercontinental long range ballistic missile (ICBM) Hwasong-15 into the sea off Japan’s west coast on Saturday, February 18, 2023, as a warning to South Korea and the United States’ plans to conduct joint war games. The missile reaches a maximum altitude of 5,768 kilometers and has a range of 989 kilometers.
Rudal ICBM Saturday was launched from the Sunan area near Pyongyang, the South Korean military said. Sunan is the site of Pyongyang International Airport, where North Korea conducted most of its recent ICBM tests.
North Korea’s first missile firing since January 1 came after Pyongyang on Friday threatened a “decisive and forceful” response as South Korea and the United States prepared for annual military drills as part of efforts to fend off North Korea’s growing nuclear and missile threats.
Japan: North Korean Missiles Can Reach the US Continent
Tokyo says the missile fell into waters inside its exclusive economic zone Japan just over an hour after launch, indicating the weapon was one of Pyongyang’s largest missiles.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the missile appeared to be of the ICBM class, referring to an intercontinental ballistic missile. He told the briefing that Japan strongly condemned the launch, calling it a threat to the international community.
Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said the missile appeared to have a range of more than 14,000 km, enough to reach the US mainland. Tokyo said there were no reports of damage to ships or planes.
South Korea: Violation of UN Security Council Resolutions
South Korea condemned the launch as a “blatant violation of UN Security Council resolutions”. North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs are banned under UN Security Council resolutions, but Pyongyang says its weapons development is necessary to counter a “policy of hostility” by Washington and its allies.
The joint chiefs of staff said the missile flew about 900 km before falling into the sea. Following Saturday’s launch, South Korea’s National Security Council held a meeting and agreed to enhance security cooperation with the US and Japan. The US Indo-Pacific Command said that the US commitment to the defense of Japan and South Korea “remains strong”.
“While we have assessed that this event does not pose an immediate threat to US personnel, or the region, or our allies, we will continue to monitor the situation,” the statement said.
The allied nuclear drill, called the Counter Strategy Committee Tabletop Exercise, is scheduled for Wednesday at the Pentagon and will involve senior defense policy makers from both sides, Seoul’s Defense Ministry said.
The two countries are also planning an expanded series of field exercises, including live fire drills, in the coming weeks and months. Some 28,500 US troops are stationed in South Korea as a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice rather than a full peace treaty, leaving the two sides still technically at war.
South Korea-Japan-US Hold Sudden Military Exercises
South Korea, Japan and United States of America held sudden military exercises on Sunday 19 February 2023 in the aftermath of North Korea’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. Reported FNN, Japan Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets and US Air Force bombers are scheduled to take part in the exercise. However, everything depends on weather conditions, and practice could take place as early as this Sunday evening.
On a separate occasion, the South Korean military, as reported by Reuters, also announced joint exercises with the United States involving strategic bombers today. This exercise was also in response to the launch of the Hwasong-15 missile.
Previously, North Korea fired a record number of missiles last year, including an ICBM capable of striking anywhere in the United States, while continuing preparations for its first nuclear test since 2017.
In addition, Pyongyang is also establishing a military unit tasked with operating new ICBMs, in line with its recent military restructuring, according to state media video footage of the February 9 parade. The parade featured more ICBMs than ever before, including possibly a new solid-fuel weapon, which could help North Korea deploy its missiles more quickly in the event of war.
Saturday’s ICBM test, North Korea’s first missile test for 2023, shows Kim Jong Un using the neighboring country’s exercises as an opportunity to expand his country’s nuclear capabilities. One expert said North Korea may seek to hold regular operational exercises involving its ICBMs.
North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said the launch of the Hwasong-15 ICBM was carried out “suddenly” without prior notification on Kim’s direct order.
REUTERS | Al Arabiya
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