North Korea Confirmed Nuclear Strikes on US Targets
North Korea Confirmed Nuclear Strikes on US Targets
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PYONGYANG - North Korea says its latest ballistic missile tests were personally ordered and monitored by supreme leader Kim Jong-un and simulated nuclear strikes on US targets in South Korea.
Tuesday’s test firing of three missiles in violation of existing United Nations resolutions was seen as an angry reaction to the planned deployment of a US missile defence system in the South.
The launch of the two Scud missiles and one intermediate-range Rodong was condemned by the United States, Japan and South Korea, who vowed a collective diplomatic response.
North Korea says its latest ballistic missile tests (pictured is a missile fired back in April) were personally ordered by supreme leader Kim Jong-un and simulated nuclear strikes on US targets in South Korea
The tests were monitored by Mr Jong-un and the range of the missiles was limited to simulate pre-emptive attacks on South Korean ports and airfields hosting US military 'hardware', the North's official KCNA news agency said.
The tests 'examined the operational features of the detonating devices of nuclear warheads mounted on the ballistic rockets at the designated altitude over the target area', it said.
According to the South Korean military, the two Scuds flew between 500 and 600 kilometres (310-370 miles) into the Sea of Japan, while the Rodong was fired about an hour later.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday said the tests were 'deeply troubling' and undermined efforts to reduce tension on the Korean peninsula. UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from developing ballistic missile technology.
Following the missile tests, Melissa Hanham, a senior research associate at the US-based Middlebury Institute of International Studies, said the move smelt 'political rather than technical to me'.
"I think the number and distance of the missiles lets them remind the ROK (Republic of Korea) of what they are up against," she said, referring to South Korea by its official name.
The launches came days after South Korea and the United States announced a final decision to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti-missile system in the South to counter threats from the North, which had prompted Pyongyang to threaten a 'physical response.'
"Our assessment is that it was done as a show of force," a South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff official said at a briefing.
The missiles were launched from an area in the North's western region called Hwangju between 5.45am South Korea time and 6.40am, the South's military said, an indication that the North was confident they would not crash on its own territory.
The launch of the two Scud missiles and one intermediate-range Rodong was condemned by the United States, Japan and South Korea, who vowed a collective diplomatic response.
The launch of the two Scud missiles and one intermediate-range Rodong was condemned by the United States, Japan and South Korea, who vowed a collective diplomatic response. Pictured are replicas of Scud missiles
"The ballistic missiles flight went from 500 km to 600 km, which is a distance far enough to strike all of South Korea, including Busan," the South's military said in a statement.
North Korea has test-fired a series of ballistic missiles in recent months, including intermediate-range missiles in June and a submarine-launched missile this month.
"In addition to the basic goal of enhancing missile units' readiness to fight, it might be a way of reminding their southern neighbors that the site chosen for a THAAD battery in South Korea is within reach," Joshua Pollack, editor of the U.S.-based Nonproliferation Review, said of Tuesday's launches.
South Korea announced last week the THAAD system would be deployed in the south-eastern county of Seongju.
In addition to the decision to base a THAAD system in South Korea, the United States recently angered North Korea by blacklisting Mr Jong-Un for human rights abuses.
"The threat to our national security is growing very quickly in a short period of time," South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn told parliament on Tuesday.
North Korea conducted its fourth test of a nuclear device in January, and activity at its nuclear test site has increased recently, according to media reports in South Korea and Japan citing government officials, as well as a report by Washington-based North Korea monitoring project 38 North.
Following the latest nuclear test and a February space rocket launch that was widely viewed as a missile test in disguise, the UN Security Council imposed tough new resolutions that further isolate North Korea.
While China supported tougher sanctions against its neighbour and ally North Korea, it has sharply criticized the decision to base a THAAD battery in South Korea, saying the move will destabilize the security balance in the region.
China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday's missile launches. Japan also denounced the launches.
"The latest launch is a breach of the UN Security Council resolution and is extremely hazardous to shipping and aircraft and we have strongly protested," the Japanese government said in a statement.
Tuesday’s test firing of three missiles in violation of existing United Nations resolutions was seen as an angry reaction to the planned deployment of a US missile defence system in the South.
The launch of the two Scud missiles and one intermediate-range Rodong was condemned by the United States, Japan and South Korea, who vowed a collective diplomatic response.
North Korea says its latest ballistic missile tests (pictured is a missile fired back in April) were personally ordered by supreme leader Kim Jong-un and simulated nuclear strikes on US targets in South Korea
The tests were monitored by Mr Jong-un and the range of the missiles was limited to simulate pre-emptive attacks on South Korean ports and airfields hosting US military 'hardware', the North's official KCNA news agency said.
The tests 'examined the operational features of the detonating devices of nuclear warheads mounted on the ballistic rockets at the designated altitude over the target area', it said.
According to the South Korean military, the two Scuds flew between 500 and 600 kilometres (310-370 miles) into the Sea of Japan, while the Rodong was fired about an hour later.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday said the tests were 'deeply troubling' and undermined efforts to reduce tension on the Korean peninsula. UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from developing ballistic missile technology.
Following the missile tests, Melissa Hanham, a senior research associate at the US-based Middlebury Institute of International Studies, said the move smelt 'political rather than technical to me'.
"I think the number and distance of the missiles lets them remind the ROK (Republic of Korea) of what they are up against," she said, referring to South Korea by its official name.
The launches came days after South Korea and the United States announced a final decision to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti-missile system in the South to counter threats from the North, which had prompted Pyongyang to threaten a 'physical response.'
"Our assessment is that it was done as a show of force," a South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff official said at a briefing.
The missiles were launched from an area in the North's western region called Hwangju between 5.45am South Korea time and 6.40am, the South's military said, an indication that the North was confident they would not crash on its own territory.
The launch of the two Scud missiles and one intermediate-range Rodong was condemned by the United States, Japan and South Korea, who vowed a collective diplomatic response.
The launch of the two Scud missiles and one intermediate-range Rodong was condemned by the United States, Japan and South Korea, who vowed a collective diplomatic response. Pictured are replicas of Scud missiles
"The ballistic missiles flight went from 500 km to 600 km, which is a distance far enough to strike all of South Korea, including Busan," the South's military said in a statement.
North Korea has test-fired a series of ballistic missiles in recent months, including intermediate-range missiles in June and a submarine-launched missile this month.
"In addition to the basic goal of enhancing missile units' readiness to fight, it might be a way of reminding their southern neighbors that the site chosen for a THAAD battery in South Korea is within reach," Joshua Pollack, editor of the U.S.-based Nonproliferation Review, said of Tuesday's launches.
South Korea announced last week the THAAD system would be deployed in the south-eastern county of Seongju.
In addition to the decision to base a THAAD system in South Korea, the United States recently angered North Korea by blacklisting Mr Jong-Un for human rights abuses.
"The threat to our national security is growing very quickly in a short period of time," South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn told parliament on Tuesday.
North Korea conducted its fourth test of a nuclear device in January, and activity at its nuclear test site has increased recently, according to media reports in South Korea and Japan citing government officials, as well as a report by Washington-based North Korea monitoring project 38 North.
Following the latest nuclear test and a February space rocket launch that was widely viewed as a missile test in disguise, the UN Security Council imposed tough new resolutions that further isolate North Korea.
While China supported tougher sanctions against its neighbour and ally North Korea, it has sharply criticized the decision to base a THAAD battery in South Korea, saying the move will destabilize the security balance in the region.
China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday's missile launches. Japan also denounced the launches.
"The latest launch is a breach of the UN Security Council resolution and is extremely hazardous to shipping and aircraft and we have strongly protested," the Japanese government said in a statement.
(rnz)
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