North Korea launches ballistic missile, may fall outside Japan's EEZ
Quick Look
- At around 6:30 a.m. on the 3rd, North Korea launched a ballistic missile from around Wonsan, Gangwon Province into the Sea of Japan, and it is believed that the missile landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.
- The Ministry of Defense announced a maximum altitude of approximately 90 km and a flight distance of approximately 680 km.
- The South Korean military claims it is over 700 km.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
This was North Korea's first missile launch in about a month since it launched a short-range ballistic missile on September 20. It has also been pointed out that this launch may be a reaction to the South Korean military's determination that a North Korean landmine was the cause of the explosion near the North-South Military Demarcation Line.
[Seoul Current Affairs] According to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, a ballistic missile was fired into the Sea of Japan from around Wonsan, Gangwon Province, in eastern North Korea, at around 6:30 a.m. on the 3rd (same time, Japan time). Japan's Ministry of Defense announced that it appears to have fallen outside Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). North Korea's Kim Yo Jong, the General Affairs Minister of the Workers' Party of Korea, issued a statement in which he announced that North Korea had conducted a firing exercise of an ``intermediate-range strategic missile.''
North Korea launches ballistic missile twice in one day, possibly falling outside Japan's EEZ
According to the Ministry of Defense, the missile flew approximately 680 km with a maximum altitude of approximately 90 km. The South Korean military says it flew more than 700 kilometers. No damage to aircraft or ships has been confirmed. The Japanese government strongly protested to North Korea, stating that ``the missile launch is a serious issue that concerns the safety of the people.''
According to the Korean Central News Agency, Yo Jong explained that the missile has an irregular flight ability that changes its trajectory at low altitudes. It was revealed that Kim Jong-un had inspected the training exercise, but also claimed that Japanese and South Korean authorities had lost sight of the missile midway through. ``The superiority of the special flight method of our missiles has been verified,'' he said.
North Korea's first ballistic missile launch was a short-range projectile on September 20th. North Korea has objected to the South Korean military's conclusion that a North Korean landmine was the cause of the explosion near the North-South Military Demarcation Line. There is also a possibility that Japan responded to South Korea by launching missiles.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Japan and South Korea will step up diplomatic efforts to seek a resolution condemning North Korea's missile launch at the United Nations Security Council
Likely · Within weeks
North Korea is likely to continue to regularly launch missiles and promote its technological development.
Possible · Within months
Open Questions
- What type of medium-range strategic missile is this missile?
- Location and time when Kim Jong Un actually observed the training
- Specific basis for the claim that Japanese and South Korean authorities lost sight of the missile midway through
- How will this launch affect North Korea's future military strategy?
