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North Korea fired two ballistic missiles on Sunday, days after Pyongyang announced the successful test of a solid fuel engine for a new military system, the South Korean military said. The tension in the area has grown significantly in the course of this year, with an unprecedented wave of launches by North Korea.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff claims to have detected two ballistic missiles launched from the Tongchang-ri area in North Pyongan province. The missiles were launched between 11:13 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. (02:13 a.m. to 03:05 a.m. GMT) toward the Sea of Japan, the South Korean agency said.
The missiles traveled about 500 km and reached a maximum altitude of 550 km, according to Japan’s Defense Ministry.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have risen this year with an unprecedented wave of weapons tests by the North, including the November launch of its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Despite harsh international sanctions against its war program, North Korea has built an arsenal of ICBMs.
“It is a threat to the peace and security of our country, this region and the international community, and it is absolutely unacceptable,” said Japanese Vice Minister of Defense Toshiro Ino.
The missiles were launched shortly after Pyongyang tested a “high-thrust solid-fuel engine” that state media called an important test “for the development of a new type of strategic weapon.”
All of its known ICBMs so far use liquid fuel, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has made the development of solid-fuel engines a strategic priority for more advanced missiles.
Kim said last year that he wants to have a solid fuel ICBM that can be launched from land or a submarine. Although the recent test of the engine points to that goal, it was not clear how far Pyongyang has progressed in developing such a missile, according to analysts.
After overseeing the launch of the Hwasong-17 “monster” missile in November, Kim declared his intention for North Korea to have the world’s most powerful nuclear force.
The political course of the isolated country in the next year will be defined in a partisan meeting this month. The KCNA news agency previously reported that Kim had said 2023 will be a “historic year.” In previous years, Kim made a speech every January 1 but has recently abandoned the tradition to make announcements at the close of the year-end party rally. .
Since 2006, the country has faced numerous sanctions from the UN Security Council for its nuclear and ballistic activities.
with AFP
