| 22 July 2023
North Korea has once again escalated tensions in the region by firing several cruise missiles towards the sea west of the Korean Peninsula. The latest missile launch, which occurred on Saturday at approximately 4 am local time, marks the second such incident in response to the docking of a nuclear-armed United States submarine at a South Korean port.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) confirmed the missile launches, and according to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, they have been closely monitoring the situation in cooperation with the United States. The JCS has stated that they are maintaining a state of high vigilance and readiness during these developments.
The missile launches occurred just days after North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles from an area near its capital, Pyongyang. These missiles traveled approximately 550km (341 miles) before landing in waters east of the Korean Peninsula. The distance covered by these ballistic missiles roughly matched the separation between Pyongyang and the South Korean port city of Busan, where the nuclear-armed USS Kentucky made history by becoming the first US submarine with nuclear capabilities to visit South Korea since the 1980s.
Although the exact distance traveled by the cruise missiles fired on Saturday has not been disclosed by the JCS, their launch is believed to be directly related to the presence of the USS Kentucky in South Korean waters. North Korea's Defense Minister, Kang Sun-nam, issued an implicit threat on Thursday, hinting that the submarine's presence could potentially trigger a nuclear attack by North Korea.
Kang Sun-nam referred to the situation as potentially falling under the "conditions of the use of nuclear weapons specified in the DPRK law on the nuclear force policy." The DPRK acronym stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
In response to the escalating situation, Seoul and Washington have been ramping up their defense cooperation. This includes joint military exercises involving advanced stealth jets and nuclear contingency planning meetings. The South Korean defense ministry described these measures as defensive responses to counter North Korea's mounting threat.
In an unequivocal statement, South Korea's defense ministry asserted that any use of nuclear weapons by North Korea would result in an immediate and decisive response, leading to the end of Kim Jong Un's regime. The statement reflects the seriousness with which South Korea and its allies view North Korea's recent actions and rhetoric.
The situation in the Korean Peninsula remains highly volatile, and the international community is closely monitoring the developments. The United States, in coordination with its South Korean partners, is expected to assess the implications of North Korea's latest missile launches and take appropriate measures to ensure regional stability and security.
As tensions continue to escalate, diplomatic efforts to engage North Korea in dialogue and de-escalate the situation will be paramount. The international community will be closely watching for further developments, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis.
Comentarios