In new missile tests, North Korea apparently also fired an alleged nuclear-capable missile with a range of thousands of kilometers. North Korea launched six ballistic missiles into the open sea over the course of the day on Thursday, the first of which appears to have been an ICBM, the South Korean general staff said. The ICBM may have dropped during the test.
Now, the UN Security Council must deal with the situation on the Korean peninsula in an emergency meeting on Friday. The US, France, Britain, Ireland, Norway and Albania requested a meeting of the UN’s most powerful body on Thursday, as the German press agency learned from diplomatic circles. The exact time initially remained uncertain.
The General Staff initially did not confirm South Korean media reports that there were problems with the alleged ICBM after the initial phase and the test ended up failing. After initial confusion over the flight path, the Tokyo government confirmed that the missile had disappeared from radar over the Sea of Japan.
There was also some ambiguity in South Korea when it came to determining the type of missile. According to the initial assessment by the Office of National Security in the Office of the President, it could also be a so-called long-range medium-range missile (IRMB), broadcaster KBS reported. According to the military, after taking off in the morning in the Pyongyang region, the missile flew about 760 kilometers at an altitude of up to 1,920 kilometers.
Both types carry nuclear warheads, the testing of which North Korea’s self-declared nuclear power is prohibited by UN resolutions. ICBMs include missiles with a range of at least 5,500 kilometers.
The latest test exacerbated the climbing spiral on the Korean peninsula. While North Korea is tirelessly conducting missile tests, South Korea and the US have resumed large-scale joint military maneuvers this year. Since the beginning of the year, more than 50 North Korean missile tests have been carried out – on Wednesday alone, the South Korean military recorded more than 20 missile tests by its neighbor. As a result, South Korea conducted its own weapons tests.
This time, the allied forces of South Korea and the United States responded by announcing that they would extend their “Vigilant Storm” air force exercises, which were due to end on Friday. Details will be given later, the South Korean military said. The decision was made “in connection with recent provocations by North Korea”.
The United States accused North Korea of a “clear violation of several US Security Council resolutions” after Thursday’s test. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida criticized North Korea’s missile tests “as barbaric and totally unacceptable behavior”.
confusion in japan
In addition to the alleged ICBM, North Korea also fired two short-range missiles towards the Sea of Japan in the morning. According to reports from South Korean broadcasters, the military assumed that this time the largest North Korean Hwasong-17-type ICBM, which could also reach the US mainland, should be tested.
In Japan, the missile test caused confusion. The government corrected initial claims that the first rocket had flown over Japan. Residents in some prefectures in northeastern and central Japan had previously been asked to stay in their homes for safety. Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said why she disappeared from the radar is still under investigation.
According to the South Korean military, another three North Korean short-range missiles were shot down late in the evening (local time). North Korea had previously criticized South Korea’s announcement of the Air Force maneuvers as “a very dangerous and wrong choice”.
North Korea has been developing nuclear-capable missiles for years. The development of long-range strategic missiles is particularly aimed at the United States, which Pyongyang accuses of hostile policies. The recent missile tests were also seen in Seoul as a reaction to South Korean Air Force exercises. Pyongyang’s goal is to be a full-fledged nuclear power, combining nuclear and missile technology and to be recognized as such by the US. (pa/dpa)