N. Korea Fires More Missiles, US-South Exercises Conclude

Facts

• On Saturday, a joint US-South Korea air force exercise — Vigilant Storm — concluded with the US flying two supersonic bombers over its ally as North Korea reportedly fired four short-range ballistic missiles into the sea.
• The exercise involved around 240 warplanes, including advanced F-35 fighter jets from both countries. Saturday's participation of B-1B bombers marked the first time in five years that bombers were deployed to the Korean Peninsula.
• The air exercise was scheduled to last through Friday but was extended to Saturday in response to North Korea's intensified missile testing, which saw it reportedly launch more than 30 missiles this week, including an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that triggered evacuation warnings in northern Japan.
• The secretary of the central committee of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, Pak Jong Chon, condemned the decision to extend the air exercise, calling it "very dangerous" and warning that the situation could spiral out of control.
• Vigilant Storm's conclusion came as South Korea reportedly scrambled about 80 fighter jets on Friday after detecting approximately 180 North Korean warplanes flying near the two countries' shared border.
• The warplanes were detected in multiple areas north of the "tactical action" line — located 12-31miles north of the countries’ shared border. The line is designed to give the South enough time to respond to provocations or attacks. According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, none of the planes breached the action line.

Sources: Associated Press, Al Jazeera, Independent, and Reuters.

Narratives

• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by AntiWar. When Washington was truly committed to de-escalating tensions with North Korea, Pyongyang responded positively, halting missile tests and demolishing several testing sites. This changed when the US began to increase its military presence in the Asia-Pacific, thereby posing an existential threat to the DPRK. Carrying out provocative drills will only escalate tensions.
• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by DW. Seoul and Washington have demonstrated goodwill toward Pyongyang in the hopes of creating an environment conducive to disarmament talks for four years. However, as North Korea has failed to make good on its promises — resuming its missile tests and further developing its nuclear program — this course correction is necessary for the restoration of the readiness of the South and its allies for an attack from the North.

Predictions