Violence and atrocities : ballistic missiles

Showing posts with label ballistic missiles. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

North Korea fires at least 10 missiles, one lands close to the territorial waters of the South for the first time since the 1945

The latest missile launch by North Korea was its 29th this year, according to a punt maintained by a section of the media. It consisted of at least 10 missiles. One of these landed close to the territorial waters of South Korea. It was the first incident since the division of the peninsula in 1945. There was also an air raid warning on an island located about 120 kilometers east of the peninsula. It was later lifted. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in Seoul said one short-range ballistic missile landed in international waters 167 kilometers northwest of South Korea’s Ulleung Island. This is about 26 kilometers south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL) that is the de facto inter-Korean maritime border. North Korea does not recognize it. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol described the North Korean test as an “effective territorial encroachment.” In an immediate response, South Korea launched three air-to-surface missiles from F-15K and KF-16 fighter jets according to JCS. North Korean missile lands close to South Korean waters for first time in decades. JCS explained that the South Korean Air Force targeted international waters north of the NLL at an equal distance to that which the North Korean missile had earlier landed south of the line. He added - “Our military’s precise strike showed our will to firmly respond to any North Korean provocations including short-range ballistic missile, and our capability and readiness to precisely target the enemy.”

This sort of aggressive accelerating in weapons testing by Pyongyang has sparked alarm in the region. The United States, South Korea and Japan responded with missile launches and joint military exercises. The United States and South Korea began previously scheduled large-scale military exercises called “Vigilant Storm.” These involve 240 aircraft and “thousands of service members” from both countries. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin would meet with his South Korean counterpart Lee Jong-sup at the Pentagon. In the opinion of experts, Kim Jong-un could be sending across a message of sorts. The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog warned last week that Pyongyang could be preparing for a nuclear test – its first since 2017. This was because satellite imagery showed activity at its underground nuclear test site. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. He called for a National Security Council meeting on priority in view of rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Thursday, October 13, 2022

Kim Jong-un supervised long-range cruise missile tests to demonstrate Pyongyang's readiness for "actual war"

North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reports that its leader Kim Jong-un supervised long-range cruise missile tests. He described them as a demonstration of his country’s readiness for "actual war." The two missiles flew for nearly three hours and showed their ability to strike targets roughly around 1,250 miles away. The agency said the test was conducted to improve the "combat efficiency and might" of long-range strategic cruise missiles "for the operation of tactical nukes." The leader of North Korea said his country's nuclear forces were prepared for "actual war to bring enemies under their control at a blow." He described his weapons systems as "mobile, precise and powerful." He went on to clarify that the missile tests send "another clear warning to enemies." Moreover, he said North Korea would "resolutely deter any crucial military crisis and war crisis at any time and completely take the initiative in it." North Korea's Kim Jong Un supervises cruise missile test.

North Korea has launched 12 ballistic missiles in a span of two weeks through October 9. One of these flew over Japan. Authorities in Pyongyang said the tests were a warning to the South and the US for staging joint naval exercises that including a US aircraft carrier. North Korea called these drills "dangerous." It seems the parliament of the North passed a law giving permission for preemptive use of nuclear weapons against these countries in the event of an attack on the leadership of North Korea. Pyongyang added that it would surrender its nuclear arsenal only if there were global disarmament. This would come as a big blow to those who still nurse hopes of negotiating Pyongyang's disarmament individually. Officials in South Korea do not rule out possibilities of the North conducting a nuclear test in the coming months.

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Kim Jong-un attends opening ceremony of new massive greenhouse farm, Ryonpho Greenhouse

Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, attended the opening ceremony of a greenhouse farm. It was built on a former air base where the country had test-fired missiles until last year. It is the Ryonpho Greenhouse Farm touted as one of the country's largest vegetable farms. It is expected to address the problems of food shortages. North Korea used the farmhouse for launching several short-range ballistic missiles. These included the KN-25s in November 2019 and the suspected KN-23s in March 2021. The state media says Kim Jong-un attended the event after guiding the officials on nuclear tactical exercises. The hermit kingdom kept carrying out nuclear exercises targeting South Korea. It was in order to counter recent joint naval drills by the forces of South Korea and the United States. Kim Jong attends opening ceremony of greenhouse farm built on former missile test site. The location of the farmhouse is in the eastern countryside of Hamju. Its launch was to mark the anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party, a major holiday in North Korea.

The project to transform Ryonpho air base was unveiled in December last year. It was a top priority project to improve the lives of people. Using it as a model, the leader has plans to move ahead with the overall rural development of the country. According to the official KCNA news agency, the farm has more than 850 blocks of modern greenhouses. The total area covered is 280 hectares. It will be harmonised with some 1,000 houses, schools and cultural and service facilities. The agency says - "Kim John has spearheaded the farm initiative to boost vegetable supplies and praised soldiers and workers for completing the construction in just a few months.” He has also issued instructions to larger farms, increase the variety of vegetables and ensure scientific, industrialized production and management at those farms.

Thursday, September 29, 2022

US Vice President Kamala Harris on a visit to South Korea and will visit the Demilitarized Zone DMZ also

US Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in Asia to attend the state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo. There she met leaders of South Korea and Australia. She has plans to visit the Demilitarized Zone DMZ. This zone divides the two Koreas and the North responded by firing two short-range ballistic missiles into the waters off its east coast. The launch of these weapons was from the Sunan area of Pyongyang. This is according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The missiles covered a distance of about 224 miles, reached an altitude of 19 miles and attained a speed of about Mach 6. This is equal to six times the speed of sound. Kamala Harris visits DMZ amid tension over North Korean missile launch.

Kamala Harris met President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea. The White House said the two leaders could discuss issues like the threat posed by the North, the “importance of peace” in the Taiwan Strait, cooperation on economics and technology etcetera. While in Seoul, she also met a group of female industry leaders. She would later proceed to the DMZ. This is described as one of the world’s most heavily armed borders. It has been a regular destination for Presidents and vice presidents of the United States during their official visits to South Korea. Once there, she would interact with service members, and receive a briefing from US commanders. Launch of this missile happens to be the 20th such launch of North Korea this year. This is based on a count maintained by a media house. Speaking on board the USS Howard at the Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan, Harris heaped criticism on the recent missile launch of North Korea. She described them as “part of its illicit weapons program which threatens regional stability and violates multiple UN Security Council resolutions.” Incidentally, the US and South Korea have been conducting joint naval exercises featuring the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier.