Sunday’s launch was Pyongyang’s eighth so far this year.
Seoul, South Korea:
Seoul said North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Sunday, resuming a weapons test blast after a month of relative calm during the Beijing Winter Olympics, and while the world focused on Ukraine.
Sunday’s launch was Pyongyang’s eighth so far this year, including the most powerful missile test launch since high-level talks between leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump. then collapsed in 2017. Diplomacy has waned since then.
Despite international sanctions, Pyongyang has doubled down on its military development and last month threatened to abandon a moratorium on automatic firing of nuclear and long-range weapons.
Analysts have widely predicted Pyongyang will seek to capitalize on America’s distraction from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Thursday with new tests.
South Korea’s military said on Sunday it had detected a ballistic missile fired towards the Sea of Japan at 07:52 local time (22:52 GMT Saturday) from Pyongyang.
“The latest ballistic missile has a range of about 300 km and an altitude of about 620 km, and the details are being carefully analyzed by South Korean and US intelligence.” Japan also confirmed the launch.
The South Korean president expressed “deep concern and regret”, and criticized the time “when the world is trying to resolve the Ukraine war”.
Shin Beom-chul, a research fellow at the National Institute for Strategic Studies on National Strategy, said: “With the US attention turning to Europe on the Ukraine crisis and the UN Security Council cannot activities, Pyongyang is seizing the opportunity.
He added that North Korea sees this as the perfect time to “continue to develop the necessary weapons and strengthen its nuclear arsenal”, in order to be recognized as a nuclear power.
The recent halt to testing during the Beijing Winter Olympics was seen as a sign of respect for important diplomatic ally and economic benefactor China.
The latest launch also comes as South Korea prepares to elect its next president on March 9.
Missile ‘top priority’
Japan’s Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said the “rapid and recent development of North Korea’s missile-related technology cannot be underestimated from the point of view of the security of our country and the region.” .
Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, said North Korea is reeling economically from the imposition of sanctions on its weapons programs and its prolonged coronavirus blockade, but the continuing the “ambitious military modernization schedule” is a top priority.
“The strength and legitimacy of the Kim regime is tied to testing better missiles than ever before,” he added in emailed comments.
Outgoing South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who repeatedly pursued peace talks with North Korea during his five-year term, has warned that the situation could easily escalate.
“If North Korea’s series of missile launches go as far as rescinding the moratorium on long-range missile tests, the Korean Peninsula could immediately fall into a state of crisis,” he said in an interview written with international media. crisis we faced five years ago.” , including AFP, this month.
Under Trump’s successor Joe Biden, the United States has repeatedly said it is ready to meet representatives of North Korea, and has vowed to find ways to denuclearize.
But Pyongyang has so far rejected the offer, accusing Washington of pursuing “hostile” policies.
Domestically, North Korea is preparing to celebrate the 110th birthday of its late founder Kim Il-sung in April, which experts say could be used by Pyongyang to conduct a major weapons test.
Recent satellite images suggest that North Korea may be preparing a military parade to display its weapons to mark an important anniversary.
Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University, told AFP: “North Korea will be cautious when testing an intercontinental ballistic missile because this is the last card left that could cause a blow. pressure on the US”.
“A card like that only makes sense when you’re holding it in your hand.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and was automatically generated from the feed provided.)
