Air-raid Alarm Blares as North Korean Ballistic Missile Falls Near South Korean Waters on Its Way to Ulleungdo

On September 25, when North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile into the East Sea, news of the missile launch was aired on TV in the waiting room at Seoul Station in Jung-gu, Seoul. Han Su-bin

On November 2, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) launched unidentified ballistic missiles into the East Sea, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Initially, the missiles headed toward Ulleungdo Island.

A military representative announced, “The initial direction of the North Korean ballistic missiles was toward Ulleungdo, and one missile fell into international waters.” He explained that the military issued an air-raid alert in the area, since the missiles were headed for Ulleungdo. On Wednesday, the DPRK fired more than two ballistic missiles. The military has heightened vigilance and fire power preparedness.

The military is currently analyzing the specifications of the missiles including range, altitude, and speed.

The display of military power on Wednesday seemed to be in opposition to Vigilant Storm, a major air drill conducted by South Korea and the United States since October 31. More than 240 fighter jets including the F-35B of the U.S. Air Force and the F-35A of the South Korean Air Force are taking part in the latest five-day exercise. The USS Key West (SSN-722, 6000 tons), a Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered submarine, is currently docked at Busan Port.

On the morning of November 2, Pak Jong-chon, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission in the Workers’ Party of Korea, threatened that if South Korea and the U.S. used force aimed at North Korea, they would “pay a horrible price.”

The North Korean foreign ministry also released a comment in the name of the spokesperson on Tuesday mentioning Vigilant Storm and threatened that the DPRK would consider stronger next-level measures.