North Korea fires a barrage of missiles as US and South Korea conduct military drills

Asia-Pacific, News, US November 3, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

North Korea fired at least 10 missiles on November 2, 2022, three of which were fired directly toward South Korean territories. The unprecedented launch triggered air raid sirens in South Korea including alerts on television.

According to the South Korean military, one of the missiles fell only 57 kilometers away from South Korea’s northeastern coastal tourist city of Sokcho. Another missile fell 167 kilometers from Ulleung County, which is a sparsely populated island near South Korea’s eastern coast. The third missile fell in international waters about 26 kilometers away from the inter-Korean sea border.

North Korea’s agitated missile launch is a reaction to the ongoing Vigilant Storm military exercise where more than 240 U.S. and South Korean warplanes are taking part in the drills. The exercise would feature more than 1600 sorties which makes it one of the largest aerial exercises for South Korea and the U.S. Vigilant Storm includes variants of the F-35 stealth fighter from both the U.S. and South Korea. Australia would also deploy an aerial refueling aircraft for the drills.

North Korea has warned the U.S. and South Korea to immediately halt the joint military exercises. A spokesperson of the North Korean ministry of foreign affairs described the air drills as “ceaseless and reckless” with a primary function to disrupt regional peace and stability.

The North Korean spokesperson also warned of “powerful follow-up measures” in response to the ongoing exercise. “If the U.S. continuously persists in the grave military provocations, the DPRK will take into account more powerful follow-up measures,” the spokesperson said in his statement which was released through North Korea’s state-owned media outlet KCNA.

North Korea’s foreign ministry statement added that “If the U.S. does not want any serious developments not suited to its security interests, it should stop the useless and ineffective war exercises at once. If not, it will have to totally take the blame for all the consequences.”

*^{North Korean People’s Army front-line long-range artillery division and air force squadron during a training exercise, on October 6, 2022. (Image Credit: KCNA/AFP/via KNS)}*

Earlier on October 29, the U.S. and South Korea concluded 12-day Hoguk 22 field exercises, which also received a similar response from Pyongyang. North Korea condemns the joint drills as a rehearsal for invasion and proof of hostile policies by Washington and Seoul.

North Korea has fired about 50 ballistic missiles this year, a record high, but until today none of the missile launches were dubbed as a sign of warning. This is also the first time that North Korea has launched missiles toward South Korean territory.

In response to the missile launch, South Korea’s transport ministry closed some air routes off its east coast. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has ordered “strict measures be taken swiftly to ensure North Korea pays a clear price” for its latest provocation.

Earlier this month North Korea also fired a long-range ballistic missile that flew over Japan which resulted in the government activating threat sirens in Tokyo and warning residents of falling debris.

The current development further raises tensions in the Korean Peninsula where both North and South are eager to flex their muscles. U.S. and South Korean officials have also warned North Korea is preparing to conduct another nuclear test in the near future.