adminSEOUL, January 6 (UPI) — North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile into the East Sea on Monday, according to South Korea’s military. This happened as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Seoul to meet with his counterpart during a political crisis in South Korea.
The missile was fired from the Pyongyang area around noon and flew about 685 miles before landing in the sea between Korea and Japan. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported this in a message to reporters.
“South Korean and U.S. intelligence were closely watching North Korea’s preparations and detected the launch immediately,” the message said.
This was the first missile launch since North Korea fired several short-range missiles on November 5, just before the U.S. presidential election. The recent launch comes as South Korea faces political turmoil after President Yoon Suk Yeol attempted to impose martial law on December 3.
Officials and analysts in South Korea warn that North Korea might exploit this political instability to increase military activity.
“Our military is closely monitoring North Korea’s actions and is ready to respond strongly to any provocation,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
At a joint press conference on Monday afternoon, both Blinken and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul condemned the missile launch.
Blinken, likely on his last foreign trip before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, also expressed concerns about North Korea’s growing military ties with Russia.
“The DPRK is receiving military equipment and training from Russia,” Blinken said, using North Korea’s official name. “We believe that Moscow plans to share advanced space and satellite technology with North Korea.”
“Putin may be ready to change a long-standing policy by supporting North Korea’s nuclear weapons program,” he added.
Russia and North Korea have become closer since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In June, they signed a strategic partnership treaty that includes a mutual defense agreement for military assistance if either country is attacked.
North Korea has supplied Russia with munitions and missiles, along with up to 12,000 troops to help in the war in Ukraine.
Blinken’s visit comes amid South Korea’s biggest political crisis in decades. President Yoon, impeached on December 14, has been unable to leave his compound as anti-corruption officials try to execute an arrest warrant for insurrection and abuse of power.
Blinken expressed confidence in South Korea’s democracy, calling it “remarkably strong.”
“We reaffirm our unwavering support for the Korean people,” Blinken said. “We trust that Korea, as a leading global democracy, will operate according to its Constitution and rule of law.”
Blinken is on a three-nation tour this week that will also include stops in Japan and France.
admin
