North Korea conducted the launch of two ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Monday night, following the arrival of a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine at a South Korean naval base. The tension on the Korean Peninsula continues to escalate. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the missile launches, with the first short-range ballistic missile being detected at 11:55 p.m. on Monday, followed by a second launch at 12 a.m. on Tuesday.
Both missiles flew approximately 250 miles before landing in the East Sea. The Japanese Ministry of Defense also acknowledged the launches and stated that the missiles reached a maximum altitude of about 60 miles before splashing down outside of Tokyo’s exclusive economic zone.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff strongly condemned the missile launches as a provocation that jeopardizes peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the international community as a whole. North Korea’s actions occurred shortly after the USS Annapolis, a Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered submarine, arrived at a naval base on Jeju Island. According to Navy officials, the submarine docked to replenish supplies.
During the USS Annapolis’ visit, South Korean and American natives plan to strengthen their combined defense posture and engage in exchange activities to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, as reported by Yonhap news agency. This visit follows the recent docking of the USS Kentucky, an Ohio-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, in Busan, South Korea. It marks the first time in 40 years that a U.S. nuclear-capable submarine of this kind has visited South Korea.
The arrival of the USS Kentucky was announced in April as part of the Washington Declaration, signed by U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol during the latter’s visit to the White House. The declaration reaffirms joint values and the U.S.’s commitment to protect South Korea from a nuclear attack by Pyongyang. It also serves to deepen the military ties between the two allies, granting Seoul a greater say in the potential use of U.S. nuclear weapons.
This development comes as North Korea continues to conduct an alarming number of missile launches, a trend that began in early 2022. Over the weekend, North Korea fired several cruise missiles into the East Sea, following the test of a new intercontinental ballistic missile called Hwasong-18 earlier this month.
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