North Korea fires two short-range projectiles into East Sea

North Korea fired two short-range projectiles into the East Sea between South Korea and Japan on Monday afternoon, the Ministry of National Defense said. They flew approximately 240 kilometers at a maximum altitude of 35 kilometers from Wonsan, along the North’s eastern coast.

Pending further analysis, the projectiles could be ballistic missiles. The launches were an extension of the annual strike drills Pyongyang conducted Friday, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said. “We are maintaining readiness and monitoring Pyongyang’s movements in preparation for further launches.”

On Friday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw the annual strike drills near Wonsan, a day after Seoul and Washington decided to put off their annual joint military drills over coronavirus concerns.

The North’s exercises, dating to 2015, were cut back this year, given that fewer artillery units were mobilized, and they seemed aimed at rallying people there against their southern neighbor rather than ramping up tension, Seoul officials familiar with the matter said.

If confirmed as a missile test, the latest launches would be the first by Pyongyang this year since Kim Jong-un warned in January this year that he would soon reveal a “new strategic weapon” in the face of what he called Washington’s “hostile policy.”

The nuclear talks between the US and North have been in limbo since October, when their working-level talks fell apart in Stockholm. Following no deal that month, the North launched two unidentified projectiles into the East Sea.

In November, Pyongyang again fired two short-range projectiles presumably from a super-large caliber multiple rocket launcher, and the following month conducted rocket engine tests at Seohae Satellite Launching Station.

The latest launches came weeks after a high-ranking US commander warned of a potential missile test by the North.

On Feb. 13, Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy, commander of the US Northern Command and of North American Aerospace Defense Command, told members of the US Senate Armed Forces Committee that Kim could be preparing for another missile test.

“Recent engine testing suggests North Korea may be prepared to flight-test even more capable ICBM design that could enhance Kim’s ability to threaten our homeland during a crisis or conflict,” he said.

Experts agree that the launches were long premeditated and were not in response to President Moon Jae-in’s overture to Kim Jong-un a day earlier, when Moon asked Kim to boost their health care cooperation to combat COVID-19.

“Kim wants to demonstrate to his people and the military that his regime is capable of self-defense, and he seeks to solidify their commitment to that end through the launches,” said Kim Dong-yub, an analyst from Seoul’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies.

By Choi Si-young (siyoungchoi@heraldcorp.com)