North Korea conducted a test launch of a hypersonic missile off its east coast on Wednesday, but the missile reportedly burst in midair. The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea confirmed the launch, stating that the missile was fired from near Pyongyang, the country’s capital. Japan’s Defense Ministry reported that the missile had a range exceeding 200 kilometers and reached an altitude of approximately 100 kilometers.
In a joint response, senior officials from Japan, the United States, and South Korea condemned the launch, deeming it a grave threat to regional and global peace and security, as well as a violation of numerous United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The South Korean military, for the first time since terminating an inter-Korean military agreement earlier this month, announced that its soldiers conducted fire drills close to the North Korean maritime border. These drills were initially announced in June. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command also denounced Pyongyang, urging it to cease its illegal and destabilizing actions. They stated that while the event did not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel, territory, or allies, they continue to monitor the situation.
North Korea’s latest missile launch follows its previous launch on May 30. This week, North Korea criticized the deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier for joint drills with South Korea and Japan, issuing a warning of an “overwhelming, new demonstration of deterrence”.
The missile launch occurred a day after the 74th anniversary of the Korean War’s commencement. Last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a summit, culminating in the signing of a mutual defense pact. Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo criticized the deepening military cooperation between the two countries, with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol labeling the pact “anachronistic”.
North Korean state media KCNA reported on Wednesday that a mass rally was held in Pyongyang to commemorate the war anniversary. The rally declared the day a “struggle against U.S. imperialism” and labeled the United States as the archenemy.
In recent weeks, North Korea has been engaged in a series of provocative actions. This includes flying hundreds of balloons carrying trash towards the South, including an incident on Tuesday. Additionally, Pyongyang deployed a large contingent of soldiers to construct new fortifications within the heavily armed border between the two Koreas, prompting warning shots from South Korean counterparts, according to the South’s military.
