Joint Chiefs of Staff Announced, "North Korea Launched Ballistic Missile into the East Sea," One Minute after the Japanese Government's Announcement

[경향신문]

The test launch of a hypersonic missile, which North Korea claimed was successful on January 5. Yonhap News

On January 11, the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced, “North Korea launched an unidentified projectile into the East Sea.” At around 7:30 this morning, the Joint Chiefs of Staff sent a text message with these details to the journalists assigned to the military headquarters.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff sent another text at 8:38 this morning and explained, “At around 7:27 this morning, we detected the launch of one projectile presumed to be a ballistic missile from the North Korean inland to the East Sea,” and added, “As for additional information, the intelligence authorities of South Korea and the United States are currently conducting a close analysis.” This day’s launch was the second demonstration of military power this year, following North Korea’s claim to have successfully test launched a hypersonic missile from Chagang Province into the East Sea six days ago on January 5.

Reportedly, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un did not observe the missile launch this day. Usually, North Korea often launches missiles as part of its joint strike exercises conducted towards the end of their winter exercises in February-March. A series of demonstrations of military power from the start of the year is unusual.

This day, Japanese media outlets including the NHK and Kyodo News reported a Japanese government announcement on North Korea launching a projectile that could be a ballistic missile.

At around 7:29 this morning, the Japan Coast Guard announced that a projectile that could be a ballistic missile was launched from North Korea and asked ships at sea to take caution. An emergency response team of officials from relevant ministries was called to the Emergency Response Office under the Prime Minister’s Office Crisis Management Center.

North Korea conducted the latest launch on the day that the international community including the U.S., Japan, and Europe held a private UN Security Council meeting to discuss North Korea’s missile launch on January 5. The Security Council meeting began at around five this morning (Korean time).

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the UN, released a statement shortly before the private meeting on January 10 (local time) and said, “The DPRK’s continued pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs is a treat to international peace and security,” and urged North Korea to come to the table for talks on denuclearization.

Due to the series of missile launches by North Korea, which is paying no attention to movements by the international community, the deadlock on the Korean Peninsula is expected to continue for the time being. North Korea has argued that the missile launch was part of its effort to strengthen national defense, which it had emphasized from last year.