Violence and atrocities : intercontinental ballistic missile

Showing posts with label intercontinental ballistic missile. Show all posts

Saturday, November 26, 2022

Kim Jong-un seen in public with his daughter, speculations are rife on her future

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is believed to have as many as three children, one of them is a girl who appeared alongside Kim and he referred to her as his "beloved daughter." Her name is Ju Ae and she appears to be aged 12 to 13, although some think she could be as young as nine. She appeared in public twice in a matter of days. Her father dropped hints that she could be a successor in the making or could be trained for a leadership position. The father-daughter duo posed for photos with soldiers, scientists and others involved in this month's Hwasong-17 missile launch. On this occasion the leader reportedly said - "It is the truth taught by history that only when we become the strongest - not the weak - in the present world where the strength in showdown just decides victory, can we defend the present and future of the country and nation." Kim Jong Un's daughter appears in public for second time - raising speculation of a successor in the making. The leader added – “scientists and technicians should "make a do-or-die struggle... and thus expand and bolster up the nuclear war deterrent of the country at an exceptionally rapid speed."

The photos released by the North Korean government did not indicate any date. Moreover, independent journalists did not have any access to the event. The KCNA described it as a "photo session." Incidentally, the Hwasong-17 is North Korea's most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile, and it underwent tests earlier this month. In the opinion of some experts, the weapon had the potential to strike anywhere on the US mainland. Kim Jong-un boasted that the ICBM was a "reliable and maximum-capacity" weapon to contain US military threats. The second appearance of Kim’s daughter has raised speculation that she could be a successor in the making. Analysts believe it would be an unprecedented uphill struggle for her in the male-dominated dynasty of North Korea.

Friday, November 4, 2022

Tension mounts in the Korean Peninsula as South Korea scrambles 80 of its stealth jets

The military of South Korea detected mobilization of 180 North Korean warplanes. Immediately, it took action to counter any attack by scrambling its stealth jets. The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea reported that it scrambled 80 aircraft, including F-35A stealth fighters after spotting North Korean aircraft at multiple locations north of the "tactical action line." There were no immediate reports of clashes. According to an official of South Korea, the virtual line drawn north of the physical border serves as the basis for air defence operations in South Korea. None of the aircraft crossed the "tactical action line." Incidentally, more than 240 planes are participating in the Vigilant Storm air drills with the United States. There was no stoppage of these drills. South Korea scrambles jets after detecting North Korean warplanes.

Pyongyang had earlier launched roughly 80 artillery rounds in retaliation for Seoul's joint military exercises with the United States. These came after the North launched dozens of missiles this week. The United States, Japan and South Korea condemned such actions of North Korea. It seems it test fired at least 23 missiles, and later launched three more into the Sea of Japan. These included an intercontinental ballistic missile that triggered evacuation warnings in Japan. As a result, South Korea and the United States prolonged their Vigilant Storm exercises. This infuriated Pyongyang. It had threatened reprisals over extension of the drills. The actions and reactions of North Korea, the hermit kingdom, are difficult to explain. It is possible that it wants to send out some sort of a message to the global community.

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Missiles fired by North Korea leads to evacuation warning in parts of Japan

North Korea has fired a number of missiles, among these one was an intercontinental ballistic missile. It prompted Japan to issue an evacuation warning for parts of Japan. One of these missiles reached an altitude of 1,200 miles and travelled about 460 miles. Japan's defence minister Yasukazu Hamada said the flight pattern was "lofted trajectory." It means the missile flew high into space to avoid flying over neighboring countries. The Japanese military lost track of the suspected ICBM over the water between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. The minister corrected an earlier report that mentioned it had flown over Japan. In the opinion of South Korea, it might have failed mid-flight. According to officials in Seoul, the launching of the first missile was from some location near Pyongyang. Subsequent ones were from Kaechon, north of Pyongyang. Evacuation alert in parts of Japan and bullet trains halted after North Korea fires missiles. After the first launch, the office of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida broadcast alerts through different devices to residents in three prefectures. These were Miyagi, Yamagata and Niigata. The alerts were for people to get inside strong buildings or to head underground. Simultaneously, there was suspension of bullet train services in these regions.

Prime Minister Kishida described the repeated missile launches of North Korea as an “outrage and absolutely cannot be forgiven." South Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman described these as "deplorable, immoral." The action of the North came a day after it fired at least 23 missiles. One of these landed just 40 miles off the coast of South Korea. It prompted the South to issue its own air raid warnings and launch its own missiles. Pyongyang has also been calling for the U.S. and South Korea to stop large military exercises. It says - "military rashness and provocation (which) can be no longer tolerated." Incidentally, nuclear negotiations between the United States and North Korea remain in a limbo since early 2019.