North Korea Fires Ballistic Missiles as Blinken Visits Seoul

Soo-Hyang Choi and Ryotaro Nakamaru
·3 min read
2
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

(Bloomberg) -- North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles in a defiant show of force that coincided with a visit to Seoul by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for a Summit for Democracy.

Most Read from Bloomberg

North Korea fired three ballistic missiles Monday toward waters off its east coast that reached a maximum altitude of about 50 kilometers (31 miles) and flew some 350 km to land outside of Japan’s exclusive economic zone, the Ministry of Defense in Tokyo said. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message to reporters about the launch that several short-range ballistic missiles were fired from around 7:44 a.m. from near Pyongyang that flew about 300 km.

The US, South Korea and Japan all condemned North Korea’s first ballistic missile test in about two months, calling it a threat to regional security and a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

It is unclear what was in the barrage. North Korea, which often comments on missile launches the following day, has been known to engage in provocations designed to coincide with high-profile political events involving the US, South Korea and Japan.

Pyongyang’s propaganda apparatus slammed the ideals advanced by the US ahead of the Summit for Democracy, which was launched under the Biden administration as a way for leaders to show solidarity. North Korea’s main newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, said US-style democracy is the “sinister intention of imperialists” to consolidate power around US-led Western forces, in an article over the weekend ahead of the summit.

Kim Jong Un and his official media have been lashing out frequently at the US and South Korea, with the North Korean leader saying the time for peaceful unification is over and striking the concept from the country’s constitution.

Kim’s regime last conducted a ballistic missile test in mid-January, when it fired off an intermediate-range rocket designed to hit US bases in Asia. The state’s official media said that projectile was a “hypersonic” missile, indicating it deployed a reentry vehicle for carrying a nuclear warhead that can change its flight path at high speeds.

Prior to the latest launch, Kim guided military drills that included fire from an artillery unit capable of hitting Seoul, overseeing training that simulated storming a South Korean border guard post and driving the country’s newest tank. These stepped up threats against his neighbor to the south coincided with it holding joint military training with the US.

The US and South Korea concluded their annual Freedom Shield exercises on March 14, which included training on land, sea and in the air against contingencies posed by North Korea. Pyongyang has bristled for decades against joint drills, calling them a prelude to an invasion.

Kim said in February he has the legal right to annihilate South Korea. Kim has also shown no inclination that he wants to return to stalled nuclear disarmament talks and has rolled out a series of new weapons designed to deliver nuclear strikes on the US and its allies in Asia.

This has led to some speculation that Kim has turned the corner on his bellicose outbursts and is readying for battle. US President Joe Biden has warned Kim that it would mean the end of his regime if he tried to launch a nuclear attack.

Kim appears to be transferring massive amounts of weapons to Russia for President Vladimir Putin to use in his war on Ukraine. The arms include artillery shells and ballistic missiles, the US and South Korea have said. Russia is likely providing technology, key materials and commodities to Kim that could help him expand the economy and increase his military strength.

--With assistance from Seyoon Kim, Iain Marlow and Go Onomitsu.

(Updates with comments from governments, details on launch)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

©2024 Bloomberg L.P.