North Korea launched two ballistic missiles for the first time since the inauguration of the Joe Biden administration on the 25th, and began an armed demonstration in earnest. After the test launch of the cruise missile on the 21st, the ballistic missile was launched on the same day, raising the level of provocation. According to military authorities, North Korea shot two ballistic missiles in the East Sea at 19-minute intervals from 7:6 am on the 25th in Hamju, South Hamgyeong Province. North Korea’s ballistic missile launch has been a year since March 29 last year. The ballistic missile was launched from the ground using a mobile launch pad (TEL). It flew about 450 km to the east from the launch point, and the highest flight altitude was determined to be about 60 km.
Another provocation after four days of cruise missile launch
“Possibility to be a ballistic missile” after 3 minutes in Japan
Joint Chieftain mentions “trajectory” only after 4 hours
Some lines “Awareness of the Blue House, announced late”
“Aim for the first press conference of North and Biden”
North Korea’s missile provocation was also first known through foreign media this time. It was 7:25 am the first time the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced the North Korean missile launch.
North Korea launches two ballistic missiles on the 25th. Graphic = Reporter Jaemin Shin [email protected]
On the other hand, Japan’s Maritime Security Administration officially released the missile launch information three minutes after North Korea’s first shot. According to the Japanese government, neither foot fell into the Japanese exclusive economic zone (EEZ). In the first announcement at 7:25 am, the Joint Chiefs of Staff also revealed that it was an “unknown projectile”, but the Japanese authorities included information in the announcement that it was “possibly a ballistic missile.” The’trajectory’ was not included in the announcement containing the results of the emergency meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Security Council (NSC) held at the Blue House for about an hour and 30 minutes from 9 am on this day. The Blue House said, “We expressed deep concern over the fact that North Korea’s missile launch was underway while the US policy toward North Korea was being reviewed.” In this regard, a government source said, “Unlike cruise missiles, launching ballistic missiles is a violation of the UN Security Council’s resolution against North Korea.”
Even at the 10:30 am regular briefing, the Ministry of Defense replied that “it doesn’t seem appropriate as it is being analyzed” about the possibility of a ballistic missile. In the end, the’ballistic missile’ was mentioned four hours after North Korea fired the missile. In a background briefing held at 11:30 am on the day, an official of the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that “to date, the ROK-US intelligence authorities are under thorough analysis, focusing on the possibility of a short-range ballistic missile.
New possible North Korean missiles, ballistic missiles subject to UN sanctions
Regarding the controversy over the delay of the announcement, he explained that “we were detecting the missile launch in real time and managing the situation.” Recently, there are continued cases of North Korea’s missile launch being reported by foreign media, not by military officials. On the 21st, North Korea’s launch of a cruise missile was belatedly revealed through foreign media such as the Washington Post (WP). As for the cruise missile launched by North Korea on January 22, just after the inauguration of the Biden administration, the ROK and the US have not even made an official announcement.
This is not the first time the military has been cautious about launching a North Korean missile. In May 2019, the expression “Buddha projectile” was controversial about ballistic missiles shot by North Korea. The government insisted on this term, even though the Pentagon declared it a “ballistic missile.” At the time, the military authorities, who were “under analysis,” replied that “a ballistic missile is correct” to the National Assembly three months later. A military official who requested anonymity said, “The ballistic missile is obvious only from the launch height and distance of the North Korean missile disclosed by the military authorities. It can only promote anxiety.” He said, “Conscious of the Blue House guidelines, it has caused a controversy over whether it was released later than foreign media.”
According to multiple sources of information, it is possible that the ballistic missile that North Korea shot on this day was of a new type. One source explained, “When looking at the launch trajectory, there is a possibility that the KN-23 was improved, which was introduced at the 8th party congress commemorative parade in January.” It is also noteworthy whether Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the North Korean State Council, observed the launch of a ballistic missile. Another source said, “The aircraft that Chairman Kim is riding headed to the vicinity of Wonsan the day before launch. It is not possible to confirm whether Chairman Kim was on board, but there is a possibility that he was in person.”
Meanwhile, the National Intelligence Service reported that the schedule of the first press conference after the inauguration of US President Joe Biden, scheduled for the 25th (local time), had an effect on the background of North Korea’s launch of a ballistic missile.
An intelligence commissioner of the National Assembly said, “The intelligence authorities seem to believe that Biden’s interview could be the main reason.” He said.
Reporters Lee Chul-jae, Kim Sang-jin, and Park Yong-han [email protected]
