In order to prevent an emboldened Pyongyang, South Korean Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said a North Korean missile test conducted during his visit to Seoul on Monday served as a reminder of the necessity of strengthening Washington’s collaboration with South Korea and Japan.
South Korea’s military claims that at approximately noon local time (10 p.m. Sunday ET), North Korea launched what looked to be an intermediate-range ballistic missile that traveled more than 690 miles east before plummeting into the ocean.
Blinken told a news conference a few hours later that the launch demonstrated the value of cooperation between the United States, South Korea, and Japan, including the sharing of real-time missile data and the conduct of trilateral military drills.
He stated that today’s launch serves as a reminder to all of us of the significance of our teamwork.
Additionally, Blinken cautioned about Pyongyang’s strengthening relations with Moscow. According to him, Washington thought Russia wanted to give North Korea access to satellite and space technologies in return for its backing of the conflict in Ukraine, which has resulted in the deaths or injuries of over 1,000 North Korean soldiers.
Despite long-standing problems that have frequently hampered ties between the Asian neighbors, President Joe Biden, who steps down this month, made progress in strengthening trilateral collaboration between the United States, South Korea, and Japan.
However, political unrest in South Korea and the impending return of Donald Trump’s unpredictable leadership in the US have prompted concerns about the viability of those initiatives.
Following his shocking proclamation of martial law on December 3, South Korean parliament this month moved to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeoland and suspend him from office. The Constitutional Court is hearing Yoon’s impeachment trial.
Yoon’s attempts to collaborate with Tokyo have been criticized by the liberals, who are predicted to win the presidential race if Yoon is ousted from government permanently.
Blinken told the news conference that although Washington had severe concerns about Yoon’s activities, it had faith in the nation’s institutions and democratic resiliency. Blinken also met with acting President Choi Sang-mok on Monday.
The launch on Monday was Pyongyang’s first since it fired at least seven short-range ballistic missiles on November 5.
Although the type of missile fired was not immediately apparent, North Korea’s IRBM tests from the previous year included a new solid-fuel design and carried what Pyongyang said was a hypersonic glide vehicle, a warhead made to maneuver and avoid missile defenses.
According to the North, it is developing solid fuel for its missiles of all ranges. Compared to liquid-fuel weapons, solid-fuel missiles are more difficult to detect and more survivable since they don’t need to be fueled right before launch, are frequently simpler and safer to operate, and require less logistical support.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!