North Korea launches four ballistic missiles toward the South

Asia-Pacific, News November 6, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

North Korea fired four short-range ballistic missiles on November 5, 2022, adding more of its barrage of missiles fired in response to the U.S. and South Korea’s joint military training.

North Korea has repeatedly shown its agitation towards the U.S. and South Korean military forces that are conducting a large-scale military exercise named Vigilant Storm.

More than 240 U.S. and South Korean warplanes are taking part in the ongoing exercise. The exercise features more than 1600 sorties which makes it one of the largest aerial exercises for South Korea and the U.S. air force. Vigilant Storm includes different 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’s recent barrage of four missiles came on the same day as U.S. Air Force’s supersonic bombers flew over South Korea in a dueling display of military might. The U.S. and South Korean exercises also feature two U.S. B-1B strategic bombers.

South Korea’s Joint Chief of Staff (JCS) said that four short-range missiles were fired from the western coastal area around noon. The missiles flew about 130 kilometers toward the western sea before falling into the waters.

North Korea has fired more than 30 missiles this week, including one Inter-continental ballistic missile that flew close to Japan’s aerial territories, triggering evacuation alerts in northern Japan.

In addition, North Korea also flew a large number of military warplanes inside its aerial territory in response to the ongoing military exercises in the region. According to the sources of South Korean aerial surveillance, more than 180 North Korean warplanes have flown close to the South Korean border raising alerts.

The United Nations security council called a meeting on November 4, to discuss the ongoing situation in the Korean Peninsula. The meeting was requested by the United States, Britain, Albania, France, Ireland, and Norway.

*^{United Nations Security Council meets to discuss threats to international peace and security. (Image Credit: UN/Manuel Elías)}*

The U.S. Ambassador to the UN highlighted that North Korea has launched more than 59 missiles this year. “Equally appalling is the council’s deafening silence on this issue,” she said of the 15-nation Security Council, which has not issued a statement or ratcheted up sanctions on North Korea for its prohibited behavior. 10 non-permanent members of the Security Council, which include India, Brazil, and Mexico, condemned North Korea’s missile launches in a joint statement.

China and Russia, however, called for the UN security council to take a constructive approach to the matter. China’s ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun said that “On the Korean Peninsula issue, the Security Council should play a constructive role rather than always stressing on pressure.”

Russia also accused the United States of inflaming the tensions in the region unnecessarily “We note with regret that recently the situation in the Korean Peninsula has significantly worsened, and the reason for this is clear: the desire of Washington to force Pyongyang to unilaterally disarm by using sanctions and exerting pressure,” said Russian Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Anna Evstigneeva.

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.