South Korea and North Korea exchanged ballistic missile launches.
In response to three ballistic missiles launched from the territory of the DPRK in just one hour, South Korea and the United States launched two missiles near the borders of the DPRK, thereby demonstrating to North Korea the readiness to use similar weapons. Nor Korea was extremely dissatisfied with such actions, which could lead to a very serious escalation in the region.
According to information available to us in response to provocative ballistic missile launches, aviation exercises and joint launches of ground-to-ground missiles by the United States and the Republic of Korea were conducted. All this has raised very serious concerns that the region could escalate. In addition, Pyongyang’s launches of an intercontinental ballistic missile are the first escalation directed against the United States.
According to data available, the U.S. Fired its tactical missile system while South Korea fired Hyunmu-2 ballistic missile.
On 25th May it was reported that North Korea fired three ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Wednesday, including an apparent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), South Korea’s military said, just a day after U.S. President Joe Biden wrapped up his Asia trip highlighting America’s security commitment to Seoul and Tokyo.
U.S. officials had repeatedly warned North Korea could conduct a long-range missile launch, or even a nuclear test, during or around Biden’s Asia trip. While North Korea refrained from any tests during Biden’s visit, its flurry of launches came just 12 hours after he left Japan.
The first missile, likely an ICBM, flew for about 360 kilometers and reached an altitude of 540 kilometers, South Korea’s military said. The North also launched a missile that failed shortly after liftoff, as well as a third ballistic missile that was presumed to be short-range, it added.
According to the South Korean news agency Yonhap, two ballistic missiles launched from the territory of the DPRK are KN-23 tactical missiles, which were called the North Korean Iskander for their very similarity to Russian-designed missiles
In response, South Korea’s military says it conducted an exercise involving 30 F-15K fighter jets. The United States and South Korea also conducted a surface-to-surface missile launch, it added.
“Our demonstration of armed forces showed that we are determined to respond to any provocations such as North Korea’s ICBM launch and we are capable of precisely striking the origin of the provocation with our military’s overwhelming power,” South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.
North Korea has conducted 17 rounds of launches this year. In March, it tested an intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time in nearly five years.