Conflicts - South Korea: North Korea fires second missile
According to the South Korean military,North Korea has fired a second ballistic missile within a few hours. A missile flew in the direction of the Sea of Japan (Korean: East Sea) on Monday, according to the General Staff in Seoul. It was initially unclear how far it flew.
It was only late on Sunday evening (local time) that South Korea's military detected the test of a North Korean short-range missile. It had fallen into the sea after a flight of around 570 kilometers, also in an easterly direction. According to reports from South Korean broadcasters, the nuclear-powered American submarine "USS Missouri" had docked in the South Korean port city of Busan a few hours earlier. The deployment of these and other weapons systems is intended to serve as a deterrent to North Korea.
The General Staff accused North Korea of renewed provocation. UN resolutions prohibit the self-proclaimed nuclear power from launching or even testing ballistic missiles of any range. Depending on their design, such missiles can also be equipped with a nuclear warhead.
New sanctions against North Korea
In view of increased tensions with North Korea, the USA and its ally South Korea agreed in April to strengthen their military cooperation. This should also include a more visible temporary deployment of strategic American weapons systems, including nuclear submarines.
The USA and its partner countries South Korea, Japan and Australia recently imposed new sanctions on North Korea due to the launch of its first reconnaissance satellite in November. They accuse Pyongyang of using technologies that are directly related to its intercontinental ballistic missile program. After an unprecedented series of missile tests last year, North Korea, which considers the USA in particular to be a hostile state, has again tested missiles and guided missiles several times this year.
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- The USA and its allies, including South Korea and Japan, have regularly expressed concerns about North Korea's ballistic missile testing, viewing it as a threat to regional stability.
- In response to North Korea's escalating missile tests, the USA has stationed several military assets in South Korea, such as the nuclear-powered submarine USS Missouri, aiming to deter any potential threats.
- Despite international condemnation and UN resolutions, North Korea, with its neighbor Japan in close proximity, continues to conduct missile tests, raising concerns of a potential conflict in the region.
- In a joint statement, the Japanese and South Korean governments have condemned North Korea's latest missile launch, calling for diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing tensions and restore peace in the East Asian region.
Source: www.stern.de
