North Korea conducted a long-range missile test on Monday, coinciding with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to the region.
Blinken was in Seoul, South Korea, at the time, not North Korea.
In response, Blinken underscored the importance of enhanced cooperation between the U.S., South Korea, and Japan to counter Pyongyang’s escalating threats. He highlighted measures like real-time missile data sharing and joint military drills as critical to addressing the challenge.
The missile, identified by South Korea’s military as an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), was launched around noon (0300 GMT) and traveled over 1,100 kilometers (690 miles) before landing in the sea, according to Reuters.
“This launch is a stark reminder of the urgency of our cooperative efforts,” Blinken stated at a news conference.
He also expressed concern about North Korea’s deepening ties with Russia. Washington suspects Moscow plans to trade space and satellite technology for North Korean support in the Ukraine conflict, where over 1,000 North Korean troops are reported to have been killed or injured.
Monday’s launch marks North Korea’s first missile test since November 5, when it fired at least seven short-range ballistic missiles. Recent IRBM tests have featured solid-fuel designs with hypersonic glide vehicles, making them harder to detect and counter. Pyongyang has declared its intent to transition its entire missile arsenal to solid-fuel technology, enhancing their operational efficiency and stealth.
This latest test is part of North Korea’s ongoing effort to expand its military capabilities, including developing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).
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