Third Cruise Missile Launch by North Korea Sparks Tensions

According to South Korea, North Korea fired cruise missiles for the third time this month.

Discover the latest report from South Korea confirming North Korea’s third cruise missile launch this month, raising tensions in the region.

South Korea’s SEOUL The South Korean military reported that North Korea launched several cruise missiles into waters off its western coast on Tuesday, marking the country’s third such launch this month. The North is continuing to show off its growing arsenal of weaponry intended to overwhelm the defenses of its adversaries.

The South Korean and American forces were examining the launches, which were discovered at about 7 a.m. (5 p.m. Monday ET), according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea. Further information, such as the quantity of missiles fired, their flight distance, and whether they were launched from land or the water, was not immediately provided.

The South Korean and American forces were examining the launches, which were discovered at about 7 a.m. (5 p.m. Monday ET), according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea. Further information, such as the quantity of missiles fired, their flight distance, and whether they were launched from land or the water, was not immediately provided.

The launch came after two days of tests of the Pulhwasal-3-31 cruise missile, which North Korea claims is intended to be fired from submarines, on January 24 and 28.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reaffirmed his intention to construct a nuclear-armed fleet in response to the second launch, citing mounting foreign threats. Whether the water launch on Sunday was carried out from an underwater barge or a genuine submarine is still unknown.

After Kim escalated the development of his armaments to an unprecedented rate and issued provocative nuclear threats to South Korea, Japan, and the United States, tensions on the Korean Peninsula have reached their greatest point in years.

In response, the US and its Asian allies have stepped up their joint military drills, which are starting to include more US strategic weapons like aircraft carriers, long-range bombers, and nuclear-powered submarines. The nations are also honing their deterrent tactics; Seoul, in particular, is looking for greater guarantees from Washington that, in the case of a nuclear assault by North Korea, the US will deploy its nuclear weapons to defend its ally promptly and forcefully.

In addition, the North launched a new solid-fuel intermediate-range missile on January 14, demonstrating its continued attempts to develop missiles capable of striking American interests in the Pacific, particularly Guam, the country’s military center.

With his nuclear arsenal steadily expanding and his relations with Russia growing stronger, there are worries that Kim may use this year’s US and South Korean elections as leverage against his adversaries.

In a scathing speech delivered on January 15 at Pyongyang’s parliament, Kim said that North Korea was giving up on its long-standing goal of peacefully uniting with rival South Korea, which had been split apart by war. He also ordered the revision of the North Korean constitution in order to further establish South Korea as its most dangerous foreign foe. The North, he continued, has no intention of avoiding conflict and, should the South be provoked, would destroy it with its nuclear weapons.

According to experts, the North wants to use its might to negotiate an easing of U.S.-led sanctions and to secure its nuclear status. It also wants to weaken South Korea’s influence in international attempts to end the nuclear impasse and finally compel direct talks with Washington.

Conclusion

The repeated missile launches by North Korea underscore the ongoing challenges in the region and the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions. As military activities intensify, the international community must remain vigilant and seek avenues for peaceful resolution to avoid further destabilization.