Pyongyang Launched Suspected ICBM, Provoking an Alert in Japan

According to the South Korean military, Pyongyang launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), but it failed mid-flight. Additionally, North Korea's seventh ICBM launch of the year provoked a warning in Japan but was unsuccessful and landed in the ocean. Furthermore, fears that the North would soon perform a nuclear test have caused tensions to rise. In addition, both Koreas fired missiles at each other's waters on Wednesday with the North launching the most missiles in a single day during the exchange. On the other hand, the US and South Korea are conducting their largest-ever combined air drills as North Korea conducts repeated launches, which Pyongyang harshly criticized as "aggressive and provocative."

North Korea continues launching missiles

Moreover, the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea released a statement claiming that on Thursday at around 07:40 local time (23:40 GMT), North Korea launched a long-range missile, later confirmed as an ICBM. It traveled roughly 760 km (472 miles) in the air and ascended to a height of 1,920 kilometers. [caption id="attachment_58735" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] image credit: indianexpress[/caption] But according to South Korea's military, the launch was "presumed to have ended in failure." Additionally, Pyongyang fired two more short-range ballistic missiles. The Japanese government on Thursday morning issued a rare emergency alert, advising citizens in several of its northern regions to stay inside due to the launches. Japan's defense minister, Yasukazu Hamada, later clarified that the missile "did not cross the Japanese archipelago, but disappeared over the Sea of Japan," contrary to Tokyo's original claim that it flew over the country. Later, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned North Korea's "repeated missile launches," calling them an "outrage."

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The launch, according to the US, showed the danger North Korea's missile program presents to its neighbors and to global peace and security. A spokesperson for the state department declared, "Our commitments to the defense of the Republic of Korea and Japan remain ironclad." [caption id="attachment_58734" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] image credit: bbc[/caption] Meanwhile, the US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong described the launches as "deplorable, immoral" in a phone discussion on Thursday, according to South Korea. Consequently, the US and South Korea decided to prolong their joint air exercises beyond their originally scheduled end date of Friday after the ICBM launch, according to the South Korean Air Force. On the other hand, this happens just one month after North Korea fired a ballistic missile over Japan, the first time in five years that it had done so. Additionally, as tensions have increased, the North has conducted a record number of missile tests this year. [caption id="attachment_58733" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] image credit: indiatvnews[/caption] For those unaware, Pyongyang conducted six nuclear tests between 2006 and 2017 and is thought to be contemplating a seventh despite punishing sanctions. Lastly, North Korea intends to remain a de facto nuclear state, so expecting it to denuclearize is unreasonable.