North Korea Launches Rockets Amid Rising Tensions with South Korea and US
North Korea fired over ten rockets into the Yellow Sea on Thursday, following South Korea’s joint air drills with the US and Japan. The missiles were launched from Pyongyang’s new rocket system designed to target South Korea. This escalation comes amid heightened tensions with North Korea’s collaboration with Russia and growing military advancements.
North Korea escalated tensions on the Korean Peninsula by launching over ten rounds of rockets into the Yellow Sea, just a day after South Korea’s joint air drills with the United States and Japan. The firings occurred on Thursday morning from Sunan, near Pyongyang, in a north-westerly direction, as reported by South Korea’s military.
According to sources, South Korea classifies these weapons as short-range ballistic missiles, which, under UN Security Council resolutions, are prohibited for North Korea. More specifically, the recent missile launches were from an upgraded 240-millimeter multiple rocket launcher, first revealed last year and designed to target South Korean urban areas, including the densely populated Seoul metropolitan region, as reported by the New York Post.
A military official from South Korea stated to local media that the projectiles, thought to be multiple launch rockets, flew several kilometers before landing in the Yellow Sea. He emphasized that both South Korean and U.S. intelligence are actively monitoring the situation for further details.
The joint air drills took place as part of the first trilateral military exercise under the new South Korean administration of Lee Jae Myung, who was just elected earlier this month. The military maneuvers highlight the ongoing cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan amid rising tensions in the region.
In recent months, the alignment of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised alarms. Reports suggest that North Korea has supplied weapons and even as many as 15,000 troops to support Russia’s efforts in Ukraine. South Korean officials remain concerned that in exchange, North Korea might receive economic aid and advanced military technology, which could significantly enhance its own weapons development efforts.
Kim Jong Un’s commitment to advancing North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities has also been noteworthy this year. Kim touted that North Korea has successfully built two 5,000-ton naval destroyers, framing the addition to their naval fleet as “convincing proof of the rapid transformation of our Navy.”
With these developments rapidly unfolding, the situation on the Korean Peninsula remains tense and closely watched by neighboring countries and the international community.
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The situation in the Korean Peninsula appears increasingly precarious following North Korea’s recent rocket launches. These launches came immediately after South Korea’s military exercises with the U.S. and Japan, highlighting ongoing tensions exacerbated by North Korea’s ties to Russia. The implications of these military escalations, alongside North Korea’s advancements in its weaponry and naval capabilities, are crucial for regional security and international relations.
Original Source: www.livemint.com
