North Korea fires two ballistic short-range missiles off of the east coast as US submarine, Annapolis arrives in South Korea. North Korea’s reaction was followed by their initial response to US’ USS Kentucky arriving in South Korea last week, where they stated that the presence of the submarines would be enough reason for them to deploy their own nuclear weapons against South Korean and US naval forces.
South Korea has called North Korea’s reaction “a grave provocation” and a threat to their internal security and peace. The missiles were launched by North Korea on Monday night from approximately 11:55 p.m. (14:55 GMT) to midnight (15:00 GMT), marking the country’s third round of launches since last week, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea.
Friction between the US and North Korea
The relations between North Korea and South Korea have been at one of the lowest points in history as the diplomatic activities between the capitals of the two Koreas, Pyongyang and Seoul have been stalled and North Korea has ordered for the ramping up of nuclear weapons and arms
Seoul and Washington have joined forces in response and have staged joint military operations. The USS Kentucky submarine has been the first US submarine to arrive at any South Korean port since 1980s. The Annapolis arrived at Jeju Island in Korea and the intentions of the operation are still undisclosed by South Korea and the US.
Last month, a US solider crossed borders into North Korea. He willingly crossed borders and bolted into the country during a tour of the village of the Panmunjom on Tuesday. North Korea did not make any comments on the issue and the country’s representative in the United Nations refused to provide any information to the press.
Travis King was a cavalry scout with the 1st division and after serving in South Korean prison for 2 months on account of assault, was released where he later joined the tour and fled to North Korea.
North Korea’s Response
Andrew Harrison, a British lieutenant general who is the deputy commander at the UN Command, which oversees the implementation of the 1953 armistice that ended fighting in the Korean War, declined to comment about the state of the inquiry to North Korea or say what the command knows about Private Travis King’s condition.
“I am in life an optimist, and I remain optimistic,” Harrison said during a news conference in Seoul.
U.S. officials are concerned about King’s condition and safety and said that North Korea has refused to divulge any information about him. In order to maximize leverage and increase the urgency of American efforts to win King’s release, analysts think North Korea may wait weeks or even months to divulge substantive information about him. According to others, North Korea may try to pressure Washington into making concessions by attaching his release to a reduction in American military engagements with South Korea.
Japan on alert
Japan’s Prime Minister tweeted about the missile on Monday. He ordered for the safety of aircrafts, vessels and other assets and directed the authorities to gather proper information and analyze it carefully.
The instructions further mentioned “Dedicate maximum effort to gather and analyze information, and provide the public speedy and adequate information. Take all possible measures for precaution, incl. readiness for contingencies.”
The Japanese government issued a warning for the safety of vehicles in the affected area about the debris of the missiles which is said to fall outside of Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
