North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister has made threats against the United States and its ally South Korea as North Korea launched two ballistic missiles into waters off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula early Monday, February 20, threatening to launch more missiles unless the United States suspends military drills with South Korea, gistpeople reports
READ ALSO: Details Emerge As Phyna, BBNaija Winner Saved From Consuming ‘Poison’
The missile tests on Monday were the second in three days after Pyongyang launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Saturday, the third in less than a year.
On top of planned nuclear tabletop drills between the US and South Korea at the Pentagon this week, the US responded to that launch by holding separate drills with South Korea and Japan on Sunday, which North Korea viewed as a provocation. Next month, the allies are also expected to conduct military exercises on the Korean Peninsula.
According to a statement posted on the state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim Yo Jong, one of the country’s top officials, “the frequency of using the Pacific Ocean as our shooting range depends on the nature of the US military’s actions” (KCNA).
Kim Yo Jong’s statement on Monday suggested North Korea was preparing for more launches, saying that if Pyongyang considers the presence of US forces in the region to be a threat, it will take “corresponding measures.”
In reference to the United States, Kim stated that “fanatics who raise tensions [in the region] will pay the price,” according to KCNA.
North Korea now has “satisfactory technology and capabilities” for missile reentry, according to Kim, and all that is left is to “focus on increasing the number of forces.”
North Korea had previously warned of “unprecedented strong responses” if the drills proceeded.
Both missiles were launched Monday around 7:00 a.m. local time and fell into the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, “to the east of the Korean Peninsula, outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone,” according to Japan’s Defense Ministry.
According to the ministry, the first missile flew about 400 kilometers (248 miles) at a maximum altitude of about 100 kilometers (62 miles), while the second was fired about 10 minutes later at a maximum altitude of around 50 kilometers (31 miles), flying about 350 kilometers (217 miles).
The launch on Monday was described by North Korea as a “super-large multiple rocket launcher exercise, which is a means of tactical nuclear attack.”
North Korea claimed to have fired two 600mm multi-rocket launcher (MRL) shots; South Korea considers MRLs larger than 600 mm to be ballistic missiles.
According to South Korea’s Defense Ministry, the US Air Force deployed B-1B strategic bombers on the Korean Peninsula on Sunday, with escort assistance from F-35As, F-15Ks, and F-16s from the South Korean and US Air Forces.
“Through the timely and immediate deployment of the United States’ extended deterrence force on the Korean Peninsula, the two demonstrated the SK-US combined defense capability and posture through the alliance’s overwhelming force and improved combined operational capability,” the ministry said in a statement.
According to a statement from US Forces Japan, the US and Japan also conducted a joint air exercise over the Sea of Japan on Sunday.
“This exercise was carried out to demonstrate our nations’ rapid response capabilities, high levels of force readiness, close coordination, bilateral interoperability, and credible deterrent capacity,” according to the statement.
Following North Korea’s ballistic missile tests on Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, and South Korea sanctioned more individuals and companies.
“We recognize the need to continue gathering information, vigilantly monitoring the situation, and deepening cooperation between the US, Japan, and South Korea,” Kishida said.
UN Secretary General António Guterres strongly condemned the launch and urged Pyongyang to immediately cease further provocative actions.
