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North Korea launches intercontinental missile for the second time in a row

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According to the South Korean Armed Forces, North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Friday, the second launch in two days, a projectile would have landed in the waters of the Japanese exclusive economic zone.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it had “detected a long-range ballistic missile that was allegedly fired from the Sunan region of Pyongyang towards the Sea of ​​Japan.”

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According to the South Korean military, which saw the launch as “a threat to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula”, the missile traveled about 1,000 kilometers at a maximum altitude of 6,100 kilometers and at a speed of Mach 22.

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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said during a visit to Thailand that the missile would fall into the waters of his country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near the Hokkaido region (north).

“The ballistic missile launched by North Korea was to land at our EEZ west of Hokkaido,” Kishida said, before classifying the launch as “absolutely unacceptable.”

He said there were no reports of damage to ships or aircraft.

Also in Bangkok, where the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum) summit is held, US Vice President Kamala Harris will hold an emergency meeting with leaders from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. to address the problem.

According to a statement signed by National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson, Washington “strongly” condemned the launch, calling it “a flagrant violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions”.

diplomatic gestures

Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said the bullet had the capacity to reach US soil.

“According to calculations taking into account the trajectory, this time the ballistic missile could have a range of 15 thousand km, depending on the weight of the warhead, and if it did, it could reach the United States,” Hamada said. said.

The blast comes a day after North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile and Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui warned of “more violent” military action if the US strengthens its presence in the Korean peninsula region.

Washington seeks to increase regional security cooperation with military exercises in response to increasing provocations by North Korea, which sees the maneuvers as evidence of US aggression.

US President Joe Biden discussed moves to rein in North Korean weapons with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida amid fears that Pyongyang might conduct a nuclear test.

North Korea was the main theme of the meeting between Xi and Kishida at the APEC meeting in Bangkok on Thursday.

Analysts say the launch of the ICBM, one of North Korea’s most powerful weapons, is a clear indication that leader Kim Jong Un is uncomfortable with the controversy.

Record launches

A few weeks ago, North Korea carried out a series of launches, including an intercontinental ballistic missile that Seoul said failed.

It also fired a short-range ballistic missile that reportedly crossed the maritime border between the two countries and landed near South Korean territorial waters.

South Korean President Yoon said at the time that it was a “de facto territorial occupation”.

The two launches were part of a fire wave on November 2, when Pyongyang launched 23 missiles; US President Donald Trump.

Analysts point out that North Korea is taking the opportunity to test the banned missiles, in hopes that Russia will avoid further UN sanctions due to its impasse over waging a war in Ukraine.

China, Pyongyang’s main diplomatic ally, joined Russia in May to veto a US attempt at the UN Security Council to tighten sanctions on North Korea.

Russia on Friday accused the US government of “testing the patience” of North Korea.

Moscow says it remains “loyal” to a “diplomatic” solution for the Korean peninsula, but “the United States and its allies in the region (…) have chosen a different path (…) as if testing their patience”. Pyongyang,” said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Serguei Ryabkov.

Washington responded to the North Korean tests with extended military exercises with Seoul, including the deployment of a strategic bomber.

18.11.2022 06:07Updated on 18.11.2022 06:38

source: Noticias

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