North Korea fired several ballistic missiles into the sea on Sunday, just hours before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung left for China for talks expected to focus on North Korea’s nuclear programme, South Korea’s military said. The missile tests also followed a major US military operation on Saturday that removed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power and brought him to the United States to face charges.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected multiple ballistic missile launches from the North’s capital region at around 7:50 am. The missiles flew about 900 kilometres and South Korean and US authorities are analysing further details. The military said South Korea remains fully prepared to respond to any provocation and is closely sharing information with the US and Japan, according to a report by Associated Press.
Japan calls missile tests a threat to regional and global security
Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi confirmed that at least two missiles were launched. “They are a serious problem, threatening the peace and security of our nation, the region and the world,” Koizumi told reporters.
The launches are the latest in a series of weapons displays by North Korea in recent weeks. Pyongyang is trying to showcase and review its military achievements ahead of an upcoming congress of the ruling Workers’ Party, its first in five years. Observers are watching closely to see whether North Korea will announce a new policy toward the United States or respond to calls to restart long-stalled nuclear talks, AP reported citing experts.
Sunday’s missile launches came shortly before President Lee departed for a four-day visit to China, where he is scheduled to hold a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Lee’s office said he plans to ask China to play “a constructive role” in efforts to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea and the US have long urged China, North Korea’s closest ally and largest trading partner, to use its influence to bring Pyongyang back to talks or to push it to abandon its nuclear weapons programme.
Questions over Beijing’s leverage on North Korea
However, doubts remain over how much leverage Beijing actually has, especially as China and Russia have blocked tougher UN sanctions on North Korea in recent years.
Later on Sunday, South Korea held an emergency National Security Council meeting, where officials called on North Korea to stop ballistic missile launches, which violate UN Security Council resolutions. The council briefed President Lee on the launches and on South Korea’s response, the presidential office said.
