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North Korea Fires 3 More Missiles Toward Japan, Including an ICBM North Korea Fires 3 More Missiles Toward Japan, Including an ICBM
(about 5 hours later)
SEOUL — A day after firing at least 23 missiles, its largest deployment ever in a single day, North Korea continued to escalate tensions on Thursday morning by launching three more, including what South Korean defense officials said was an intercontinental ballistic missile, governments in South Korea and Japan said. SEOUL — A day after firing at least 23 missiles, its largest deployment ever in a single day, North Korea continued to escalate tensions on Thursday morning by launching three more, including what South Korean defense officials said was an intercontinental ballistic missile.
The launches triggered alarms in neighboring Japan, which initially set off its emergency alert system in three prefectures in northern Japan, exhorting residents to take shelter and warning that a missile could fly over the archipelago. The launches triggered alarms in neighboring Japan, which initially set off its emergency alert system in three northern prefectures, urging residents to take shelter and warning that a missile could fly over the archipelago.
NHK, the public broadcaster, initially reported that government sources had said that a missile had flown over Japan for the second time in a month. But less than an hour later, the defense minister, Yasukazu Hamada, told reporters that the ministry had analyzed data and determined that the missile had not flown through Japanese airspace.NHK, the public broadcaster, initially reported that government sources had said that a missile had flown over Japan for the second time in a month. But less than an hour later, the defense minister, Yasukazu Hamada, told reporters that the ministry had analyzed data and determined that the missile had not flown through Japanese airspace.
A South Korean defense official said the ICBM test appeared to be a failure, judging from the missile’s speed and the altitude it reached, which were below those of comparable launches in the past. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the military’s analysis before an official announcement. A South Korean defense official said the ICBM test appeared to be a failure, judging from the missile’s flight data, including its speed and the altitude it reached, which were below those of comparable launches in the past. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the military’s analysis before an official announcement.
Tensions have been rising around the Korean Peninsula in recent months as North Korea has fired off fusillades of missiles and the United States, South Korea and Japan have conducted multiple military drills in the region. Fumio Kishida, Japan’s prime minister, described the missile launches as “a violent action” and said they “will not be permissible.”
South Korea and the United States began an annual joint military exercise earlier this week, involving 240 aircraft and thousands of military personnel from both countries. The military aircraft were scheduled to make about 1,600 sorties, the highest number ever for the annual drill. Tensions have been rising around the Korean Peninsula in recent months as North Korea has fired off fusillades of missiles and the United States, South Korea and Japan have conducted multiple military drills in the region. North Korea strongly objects to such exercises, often characterizing them as rehearsals for an invasion.
After North Korea launched nearly two dozen missiles on Wednesday, South Korea’s military responded by firing missiles from fighter jets near the North’s territory. Earlier this week, South Korea and the United States began a joint drill involving thousands of military personnel and 240 aircraft, which were scheduled to make 1,600 sorties, a record for the annual exercise. The drill had been set to end on Friday, but the South Korean military said on Thursday that it would be extended because of the North’s latest missile tests.
Fumio Kishida, Japan’s prime minister, described the North’s missile launches as “a violent action” and said they “will not be permissible.” On Wednesday, the South’s military responded to the North’s flurry of launches by firing missiles of its own from fighter jets into international waters near North Korean territory.
Mr. Hamada, the defense minister, said one of the missiles had reached an altitude of 1,242 miles and flown 466 miles, and was likely a mid- to long-range missile. The figures suggested that the missile fell into waters west of Japan. Mr. Hamada, the Japanese defense minister, said one of the North Korean missiles fired Thursday had reached an altitude of 1,242 miles and flown 466 miles, and was likely a mid- to long-range missile. The figures suggested that the missile fell into waters west of Japan.
The South Korean military said the North fired the ICBM from the Sunan district of Pyongyang, its capital, at 7:40 a.m. Thursday, and launched two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast an hour later. The ICBM flew 1,193 miles to the east while reaching an altitude of 472 miles, it said.The South Korean military said the North fired the ICBM from the Sunan district of Pyongyang, its capital, at 7:40 a.m. Thursday, and launched two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast an hour later. The ICBM flew 1,193 miles to the east while reaching an altitude of 472 miles, it said.
North Korea last launched an ICBM in March, but the missile was fired at a deliberately steep angle. The missile soared 3,850 miles into space but only covered a distance of 671 miles, falling into waters west of Japan. Officials said the ICBM appeared to be a Hwasong-17, the North’s newest and biggest long-range missile, which has had a checkered history in testing since it was first displayed at a military parade in Pyongyang, the capital, in October 2020.
The North followed up with the test of an intermediate-range ballistic missile on Oct. 4, which flew over Japan, setting off alarms there. That missile flew farther than any other missile the North had tested before, traveling a distance of nearly 2,800 miles. A Hwasong-17 launched in March exploded shortly after takeoff. Days later, the North conducted its most powerful ​ICBM test to date, firing the missile at a deliberately steep angle. It soared 3,850 miles into space but only covered a distance of 671 miles, falling into waters west of Japan. ​The North said it was a Hwasong-17.
In recent years, North Korean missile tests have become all but routine. But its latest flurry of launches has spiked jitters among policymakers in Seoul and Tokyo because they involved various shorter-range missiles that the North said were harder to intercept and could deliver tactical nuclear warheads to South Korea and to Japan. But South Korean officials later said it had actually been an older model, a Hwasong-15, and that the North had hoped to exaggerate its weapons progress by falsely claiming a successful Hwasong-17 launch.
Under its brash leader, Kim Jong-un, North Korea has also adopted a harder-line nuclear doctrine, making an explicit threat to use its nuclear weapons if it felt danger. Between February and May, North Korea conducted six missile tests that appeared to involve ICBMs, according to South Korean and American officials​. None of the missiles flew at their full range, covering relatively short distances instead​. Most of them also did not reach the altitude that a typical ICBM achieves during its flight.
South Korean officials said that while the ICBM launch Thursday appeared to be another failure for the Hwasong-17, North Korea did seem to be making some progress with the two-stage missile. Unlike the one that exploded in March, the missile launched on Thursday successfully separated its second, warhead stage, they said.
The State Department in Washington called the launch “a clear violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions” and said it demonstrated the threat of the North’s “unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs.”
In recent years, North Korean missile tests have become all but routine. But its latest flurry of launches has spiked jitters among policymakers in Seoul and Tokyo because many involved various shorter-range missiles that the North said were harder to intercept and could deliver tactical nuclear warheads to South Korea and to Japan.
On Oct. 4, the North sent an intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan, setting off alarms there. It flew farther than any other missile the North had tested before, traveling a distance of nearly 2,800 miles.
Under its leader, Kim Jong-un, North Korea has also adopted a harder-line nuclear doctrine, making an explicit threat to use its nuclear weapons if it felt danger.
“Given the lack of prior notification and the experimental nature of North Korea’s missiles, there are dangers that a test on a threatening trajectory could be interpreted as an attack or that a projectile could malfunction and hit a populated area,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.“Given the lack of prior notification and the experimental nature of North Korea’s missiles, there are dangers that a test on a threatening trajectory could be interpreted as an attack or that a projectile could malfunction and hit a populated area,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.
The war in Ukraine has raised tensions with Moscow in both Washington and Tokyo, making Russia, as well as its ally China, less cooperative when it comes to the United Nations Security Council imposing additional sanctions on the North. Both China and Russia are veto-wielding members of the Council, and their resistance to new sanctions may encourage North Korea to test more missiles, analysts say.The war in Ukraine has raised tensions with Moscow in both Washington and Tokyo, making Russia, as well as its ally China, less cooperative when it comes to the United Nations Security Council imposing additional sanctions on the North. Both China and Russia are veto-wielding members of the Council, and their resistance to new sanctions may encourage North Korea to test more missiles, analysts say.
“So while Kim may calculate that China and Russia will shield North Korea from further U.N. Security Council resolutions, he is still risking escalation with this aggressive schedule of launches,” Professor Easley said, referring to the North’s leader. “Kim appears willing to take that risk in an attempt to frighten democratic publics and coerce Washington, Seoul and Tokyo to scale back their defense exercises.” “So while Kim may calculate that China and Russia will shield North Korea from further U.N. Security Council resolutions, he is still risking escalation with this aggressive schedule of launches,” Professor Easley said. “Kim appears willing to take that risk in an attempt to frighten democratic publics and coerce Washington, Seoul and Tokyo to scale back their defense exercises.”
Choe Sang-Hun reported from Seoul and Motoko Rich from Tokyo. Hikari Hida and Miharu Nishiyama contributed reporting from Tokyo.Choe Sang-Hun reported from Seoul and Motoko Rich from Tokyo. Hikari Hida and Miharu Nishiyama contributed reporting from Tokyo.