After North Korea launched three missiles into the ocean, South Korea claims to have issued an air raid alert for residents of an island off its eastern coast. The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea said that on Wednesday morning, North Korea launched three short-range ballistic missiles from Wonsan along its eastern coast.
The launch comes as North Korea intensified its harsh language by threatening to use nuclear weapons to make the United States and South Korea “pay the most terrible price in history” for continuing massive military exercises between the two countries.
The current military exercises between South Korea and the United States have been dubbed “aggressive and provocative” by Pak Jong Chon, secretary of the governing Workers’ Party and a man who is widely regarded as Kim Jong Un’s close confidant.
North Korea has claimed that its recent nuclear and missile tests were intended to send a message to Washington and Seoul regarding a series of joint military exercises that it sees as an invasion practise, such as the ones this week involving nearly 240 bombers.
The North Korean Foreign Ministry warned of “more forceful follow-up measures” in retaliation after the United States expanded military drills with South Korea that it claimed were practise for a potential invasion.
The White House reiterated that drills are a regular component of training with South Korea on Tuesday in response to North Korea’s sabre threats.
“We reject the idea that they are provocative in any way. Speaking of North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said on Tuesday, “We have made it clear that we have no hostile intent towards the DPRK and call on them to engage in serious and sustained diplomacy. “The DPRK still doesn’t reply. While doing so, we will keep collaborating closely with our allies and partners to prevent the North from advancing its illicit weapons programmes and endangering regional security.
This year, North Korea has increased the frequency of its weapons tests to a record level, launching over 40 ballistic missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles under development and an intermediate-range missile shot over Japan. These tests have been followed by the North’s escalating nuclear doctrine, which permits preemptive nuclear strikes in ill-defined crisis situations.
