North Korea launches ballistic missile into the sea

North Korea conducts another ballistic missile test after a suspected ballistic missile lands between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. In spite of the UN prohibition on launching ballistic and nuclear weapons tests, North Korea continues to fire missiles.

The latest launch came when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged allegiance to enhance military capabilities during a high-level meeting with South Korea and the United States.

The Japanese coast guard reported the latest launch earlier on Wednesday. South Korea and the US are to join forces to analyze the further details of the launch.

Reuters reported that Japan’s Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi said, “The suspected ballistic missile has flown about 500 km (310 miles).”

Though some experts suggest that there is no way one can define the full striking range of the missile, Ankit Panda (Nuclear Policy Programme at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) supported the above statement, saying, “There’s no way to assess whether this might have been a longer-range missile flown on a shortened trajectory.”

North Korea recorded the launch of a missile named Hwasong-15 in 2017. It has an expected altitude of 4,500 km, endangering the US military bases on the Pacific island of Guam.

Mr. Panda also brought forward an instance defining the nature of the North Korean missile: “The launch of the missile came after Mr. Kim announced the continuation of strengthening its defense capabilities due to the unstable military environment on the Korean peninsula.”

Ballistic missiles are a greater threat than any other missile as they can carry more powerful payloads. They can fly faster and have a longer range. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called this launch “very regrettable.” He pointed to North Korea’s repeated testing of missiles as proof.

North Korea’s continuous testing of ballistic missiles has put the elderly and children at risk in the country. BBC official Panda also added that Kim’s emphasis on self-reliance in national defense would cause economic difficulties in the country.

The United States has called on North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. But, the tension between the two nations has fueled since President Joe Biden’s administration.

Credits: BBC