North Korea launches ballistic missiles ahead of Trump inauguration
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Seoul: North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Tuesday, just days before US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, according to South Korea's military. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported that the missiles were fired at around 9:30 a.m. from the Ganggye area in the North's Jagang Province, traveling approximately 250 kilometers before splashing into the sea. The JCS did not provide the exact number of missiles launched.
This marks North Korea's second missile provocation in January, following the launch of a hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile on January 6. The short-range missiles fired on Tuesday are believed to be directed towards South Korea due to their flight range.
This missile test comes after North Korea's similar launch of short-range missiles on November 5, 2024, just hours before the US presidential election. During a year-end party meeting, the North Korean regime declared plans to carry out the "toughest" counteractions against the United States, accusing the growing military cooperation between South Korea, the US, and Japan of forming a "military bloc for aggression."
The JCS condemned the recent missile launches, calling them a "blatant provocation" that threatens regional peace and stability. The JCS reiterated its commitment to maintaining a robust readiness posture and vowed to remain vigilant against any potential miscalculations by North Korea.
To prepare for any further provocations, the JCS has bolstered its surveillance and shared intelligence with both the United States and Japan, ensuring a coordinated response. The presence of transporter erector launchers near the launch site has also raised concerns about additional missile launches.
South Korea's Acting President, Choi Sang-mok, condemned North Korea's actions, describing the missile test as a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions. He pledged a firm response based on the solid South Korea-US alliance.
With IANS inputs