North Korea launches two ballistic missiles, South Korea announces

North Korea launched two ballistic missiles into eastern waters on Sunday. in a month And it comes two days after it claimed to have carried out the major tests necessary to build a more maneuverable and powerful intercontinental ballistic missile designed to strike the continental United States.

The South Korean military has confirmed that two North Korean ballistic missiles were launched from northwestern Dongchang-ri. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the missile flew across the country toward eastern waters.

It said the missiles were fired about 50 minutes apart, but did not provide details such as the exact type of weapon North Korea launched or the distance it flew. He said he was working closely with the United States to maintain readiness.

Japanese officials also said they had spotted two missile launches from North Korea. A Japanese Coast Guard official said both missiles landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

A television screen showing a North Korean missile launch during a news program at Yongsan Station in Seoul, South Korea, November 19, 2022.

KIM Jae-Hwan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images


The Tongchang-ri area is home to North Korea’s Sohae satellite launch site, and in recent years North Korea has launched long-range rockets carrying satellites in what the United Nations called a camouflage test of ICBM technology.

On Thursday, at the Sohae facility, North Korea also conducted what it called a test of a new strategic weapon, a “high-thrust solid-fuel motor.” To detect an arsenal of intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the continental United States.

It was not immediately clear if Sunday’s launch was conducted from the Sohae facility.

Sunday’s launch is the first public weapons test since North Korea launched last month the liquid-fueled Hwasong-17 ICBM it is developing, the longest-range liquid-fueled Hwasong-17 ICBM capable of reaching the entire continental United States.In recent months, North Korea Test-fired a barrage Missile launches at a record pace despite pandemic-related economic hardships and pressure to curb U.S.-led nuclear programs.

North Korea has defended its nuclear tests as a means of self-defense to deal with growing US-South Korea military exercises it sees as rehearsals for aggression. But some experts say North Korea likely used rival military training as a pretext to expand its arsenal and gain leverage in future negotiations with the United States.Last month, President Biden and the leaders of Japan and South Korea unified and coordinated Responding to North Korea’s Missile and Nuclear Programs.

The weapons North Korea said it could build with recently tested motors are likely to refer to solid-fuel ICBMs. This is his one on a list of high-tech weapon systems that Chairman Kim Jong-un has vowed to procure early at a major ruling Workers’ Party conference. last year. Other weapon systems Kim Jong-un has promised to manufacture include multiple warhead missiles, water-launched nuclear missiles and spy satellites.

Because the solid propellant rocket’s fuel is already loaded inside, it reduces the launch readiness time, makes the weapon more maneuverable, and makes it harder for outsiders to detect what’s going on before launch. increase. North Korea already has a growing arsenal of short-range solid-fuel ballistic missiles that target key locations in South Korea, including US military bases there.

There are also concerns that North Korea may conduct its first nuclear test in five years. Late October, U.S. and South Korean officials told CBS News North Korea is preparing to test a nuclear weapon soon, in what would be its first nuclear test since 2017.

The exact status of North Korea’s nuclear strike capability remains a secret as all recent intercontinental ballistic missile tests have been conducted at steep angles to avoid neighboring countries.

Some experts speculate that North Korea already operates nuclear warhead missiles capable of hitting the entire United States, given the years it has spent on its nuclear program. But the country is still years away from acquiring such a weapon and has yet to publicly prove that it possesses the technology to protect warheads from the harsh conditions of atmospheric re-entry. Some people say

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/north-korea-test-fires-2-ballistic-missiles/ North Korea launches two ballistic missiles, South Korea announces

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