N. Korea Fires Ballistic Missiles After Protesting US Drills

Improve the News Foundation -

Facts

  • South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff stated the North launched two short-range ballistic missiles (SBRMs) into the sea off its east coast on Monday, after Pyongyang protested joint military drills by the US and South Korea.1
  • The two SRBMs were reportedly fired from the southern Chunghwa area at about 7:47 a.m. local time and flew about 220 miles (350 km). They reached a maximum altitude of about 50 km before landing outside Japan's exclusive economic zone, according to the Defense Ministry in Tokyo.2
  • North Korea's latest missile launch, the seventh this month, underscores that tensions are mounting in the region as both North Korea's weapons tests and US-South Korea joint military exercises have intensified.3
  • This comes as the US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and other ships from its accompanying strike group are expected to dock at a South Korean naval base on Tuesday.4
  • Pyongyang has fired more than 20 ballistic and cruise missiles this year, including an underwater drone attack that allegedly could generate a radioactive tsunami.5
  • North Korea in 2022 declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear power, with its leader Kim Jong-un calling for an "exponential" increase in weapons production. Earlier this month, he ordered the military to intensify drills in preparation for a "real war."6

Sources: 1Al Jazeera, 2Bloomberg, 3ABC News, 4New York Post, 5Sky News, and 6Guardian.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by CNN. These tests are a continuation of North Korea’s unpredictability and repeated threats, which have put the stability of the region at risk. Extended deterrence by the US and South Korea is the only option until Kim is willing to return to the negotiating table.
  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Global Times. The US can’t deny that it bears the main responsibility for declining diplomatic relations with North Korea, especially as the Biden administration has switched back to a confrontational course following former Pres. Trump's efforts at de-escalation. By fueling conflict, the US hopes to establish closer ties with Japan and South Korea to cut into China’s regional influence.

Predictions