In its latest provocation, North Korea launched its first intercontinental ballistic missile in three months off its east coast on Wednesday. As officials from Japan and South Korea attended the annual North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Lithuania, the missile was launched near the area of Pyongyang. According to Tokyo, this incident marks Pyongyang’s longest ICBM flight.
The missile reportedly was airborne for 74 minutes after launch and reached a top altitude of more than 3,725 miles. Japanese government spokesperson Hirokazu Matsuno stated that the missile landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone and that no signs of damage in the area were reported.
Details Surrounding North Korea and Its Latest Launch
From the NATO summit in Lithuania, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned Pyongyang’s hostile behavior: “These acts by North Korea threaten the peace and security not only of our country but also the region, as well as the international community, and it is absolutely unacceptable.”
White House officials mirrored this rhetoric, saying Pyongyang’s actions “needlessly raises tensions” and “risks destabilizing” the region. UN Security Council spokesperson Adam Hodge also blasted the ICBM launch, noting that “This action demonstrates that the DPRK continues to prioritize its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs over the well-being of its people.”
Why is North Korea Escalating Hostilities?
North Korean launches have ramped up in recent months, following Pyongyang’s protests against America’s military ties with South Korea. In fact, the hermit kingdom has launched dozens of rockets over the past year, which have all been considered to be brazen violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions. This latest launch closely followed remarks made by North Korean officials earlier in the week, threatening to shoot down U.S. military reconnaissance aircraft in the area. Pyongyang claims that America engages in “hostile espionage” activities near its territory.
By “hostile espionage,” Pyongyang is likely referring to the U.S. presence in the region. The aerial maneuvers that North Korean officials claim to be hostile acts are routine in nature. Kim Jong Un’s sister claimed that an American spy plane had illegally entered North Korean territory earlier this week. Since nations don’t possess sovereignty over the surface of the water or airspace above exclusive economic zones, however, this action was in no way illegal. Additionally, South Korean and U.S. troops participated in a joint live-fire exercise in June. The show of unity between the countries followed Pyongyang’s failed attempt in May to launch a spy satellite. Notably, the joint drills celebrated the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-South Korean alliance, an event that North Korea detests.
July 27 marks the anniversary of the signing of an armistice that paused the Korean War. Seoul-based analysts predict that leading up to this event, Pyongyang will be more inclined to launch missiles and engage in other provocations. North Korea will also try to save face from its publicized satellite launch failure that occurred in May. Additional ICBM launches are North Korea’s way of flexing its military capabilities in light of that embarrassment.
Maya Carlin, a Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.
From 19FortyFive
Total Massacre’: Ukraine Footage Shows Russian Cruise Missile Shipment Attacked
Video – Ukraine Has Massive New NATO ‘Cannon’ Ready To Fight Russia
‘Americans Will Pay The Price’: One Democrat Is Angry At Joe Biden
