A new missile launch was attempted by North Korea on Saturday, and according to South Korea statements, the submarine launch appears to be a ballistic missile fired off the northeast coast. The United States, Japan and South Korea were immediately alerted on the matter.
South Korean officials announced anonymously the launch effort made by Pyongyang on the expansion of their military forces. The ballistic missile was fired around 6:30 p.m. local time and flew about 19 miles, which is considered a short range for the 186 miles successful test.
According to statements made by an anonymous source within the South Korean government, the missile was fired from a 2,000-ton Sinpo-class submarine, yet it traveled a short path until falling into the ocean after 19 miles traveled.
Previous launches and its possible meaning
The North Korean government attempted a unsuccesful launch just last week, becoming a total of 5 failed attempts on the submarine-launch. However, State’s officials have become worried about the consistent launching platform, while saying the constant trials are a complete violation to U.N rules. It’s important to recall the many sanctions imposed on North Korea by the U.N. in the past few months. Although North Korea already had plenty of economic sanctions put by the United Nations in previous occasions.
“We have seen the reports that North Korea launched what appeared to be a ballistic missile from a submarine in the Sea of Japan. Launches using ballistic missile technology are a clear violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions” said John Kirby a State Department spokesman in a statement.
The spokesman called the North Korean government to refrain from such actions, while assuring the United States will remain strong on defending its allies. Adding they will continue to monitor this actions.
The attempts from North Korea have been considered as provocative trials but are not yet considered a threat to Japan or the United States. According to CNN reporters, these trials remain a priority to Pyongyang and are viewed as military success. Within the next few months, the failed attempts of North Korea to deploy a successful weapon will surely learn from past mistakes. At that time, Japan and the U.S. will have to reconsider if the tests performed in Pyongyang still remain as non-threatening for their countries.
The concern on the trials emerges since it’s an underwater attack. And if North Korea manages to succeed in this matter it would have an advantage on surprising its enemies with the launch. Considering North Korea doesn’t have many allies, it’s important for world leaders to take close attention to Kim Jong Un and his nuclear, ballistic, and missile tests.
North Korea has attempted these trials in the sea as a preparation for what they call ‘an invasion of the North’. South Korean authorities who informed on the matter assure that while is unlikely that the North Korean government possess operational submarines, they are making quite a progress on the matter.
Source: CNN