North Korea is once again stoking tensions off the Korean peninsula—for a 3rd time this month—after it fired a barrage of cruise missiles on Jan. 30 in yet another brazen show of force, South Korea’s military reported.
According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, both the South Korean and U.S. militaries detected the launches at around 7 a.m. local time. South Korean officials declined to provide additional details.
It currently remains unclear how many missiles were fired, what exact location they originated from, and where they landed. North Korea had launched previous tests of the Pulhwasal-3-31 cruise missile on Jan. 24 and 28, a weapon it says is designed to be fired from submarines.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ramped up the communist regime’s efforts in weapons development to an unprecedented level, causing tensions in the region to reach their highest point in years.
Following the Jan. 28 launch, he reiterated his goal of building a nuclear-armed navy to counter what he described as growing external threats. It remains unclear whether the launch on Jan. 28 originated from a submarine or from an underwater barge.
Threats of provocative nuclear action from North Korea’s regime leader against the United States, South Korea, and Japan have been mounting in recent months, resulting in staunch responses from the U.S. and its Asian allies.
These included increased combined military exercises, in addition to strategic deployment of U.S. strategic assets such as aircraft carriers, long-range bombers, and nuclear-powered submarines.
The 3 allies have increased their emphasis on broadening their deterrence strategies—with South Korea, in particular, asking for reassurance from Washington that, should North Korea launch a nuclear strike, the United States would not hesitate to engage its nuclear arsenal to defend its ally.
North Korea’s recent weapons tests follow tests of a new solid-fuel intermediate-range missile on Jan. 14 that was reportedly capable of targeting U.S. assets in the Pacific—including the military hub on Guam.
As North Korea has been steadily expanding its nuclear arsenal—underscored by bolstered ties with Russia—it has given rise to fears that the regime could create additional challenges for the United States and South Korea amid their upcoming presidential elections this year.
Concerns about a direct provocation from North Korea are also growing. Earlier this year, North Korea fired hundreds of artillery rounds into waters near their disputed western sea border over three consecutive days.
South Korea responded with similar measures, though there were no reports of casualties or damage. The disputed area has witnessed multiple altercations and attacks in recent years.
North Korea has made it abundantly clear that it has no intention to peacefully reunite with its southern neighbor. Speaking before Pyongyang’s assembly in a heated address on Jan. 15, Kim openly described South Korea as its most hostile foreign adversary.
He went on to say that there is no compunction on the North’s part regarding the use of nuclear weapons against South Korea, or engaging in a full-scale attack if provoked.
Experts have suggested that North Korea’s aim is to stifle South Korea’s ability to engage in resolution efforts on an international platform, while reinforcing its nuclear status to force direct dealings with Washington.
This would serve primarily to re-negotiate U.S.-led sanctions from a position of greater strength.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
