North Korea tested multiple short-range ballistic missiles on Sunday, according to South Korean witnesses, in a provocative military display that might lead to a live nuclear missile test, according to the US and South Korean defense officials.
A salvo of eight missiles was shot from at least four separate places in North Korea, including the western and eastern coasts, as well as two interior regions near Pyongyang, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.
North Korea's Missile Failed
Sung Kim, US President Joe Biden's special envoy to North Korea, voiced "great sorrow" that North Korea was pursuing nuclear development despite the country's uncontrolled COVID-19 outbreak. The missiles were purposely sent into the sea, but there have been concerns about North Korea's missile accuracy since a test missile in 2017 resulted in a humiliating error for Kim Jong Un's country.
In a 2017 test, a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of carrying a 1,430lb payload at hypersonic speeds over a range of up to 2,300 miles malfunctioned and fell into buildings in Tokchon, some 40 miles from the launch base in South Pyongan Province, as per Daily Star.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called a political meeting to assess state matters, including a COVID-19 outbreak, and perhaps discuss ties with Washington and Seoul amid his renewed nuclear brinkmanship. The plenary meeting of the governing Workers' Party's Central Committee began Wednesday in Pyongyang, according to the official Korean Central News Agency, and could continue for several days.
The summit comes as North Korea seems to be preparing for its first nuclear test explosion in over five years, escalating a provocative run of military displays this year that has included multiple intercontinental ballistic missile launches. KCNA published images of meeting attendees entering inside a party headquarters and said they agreed to the agenda, which was not detailed.
According to official media, the summit would discuss state affairs and make decisions on a series of crucial problems, including the country's COVID-19 pandemic. World Health Organization officials stated Wednesday that they feared the outbreak was worsening and asked for further information to be shared with the UN health agency.
South Korean officials and analysts, Kim may address tensions with the US and rival South Korea amid long-stalled negotiations and redouble his intentions to create nuclear weapons capable of threatening US allies and the American homeland.
US, South Korea, and Japan Hold Meeting Amid Threat From North Korea
Amid the party's previous plenary assembly in December, Kim repeated his pledge to expand his military nuclear program and command the construction of more powerful and sophisticated weapons systems, during discussions that lasted a record five days.
The North Korean conference occurred on the same day that US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met with her colleagues from South Korea and Japan in Seoul on Wednesday, underscoring the need for trilateral security cooperation in the face of the escalating North Korean threat. She threatened a rapid and harsh response if the North conducted a nuclear test, but she did not explain, according to ABC News.
North Korea launched eight short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast on Sunday, a day after South Korea and the United States concluded joint military exercises. For the first time in more than four years, the bilateral drills included an American aircraft carrier.
According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, at least eight missiles were fired from the Sunan area of Pyongyang, and they flew between 110 km and 600 km at altitudes ranging from 25 km to 90 km.
In answer, South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol summoned a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) and ordered greater deterrence by South Korea and the Joint States, as well as continuing strengthening of the united defense posture.
As per the president's office, the NSC meeting determined that the missile launch was North Korea's test and challenged South Korea's new administration, which took office last month, Business World reported.
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