A missile launch by North Korea sparked confusion in northern Japan, where an evacuation order was issued and then retracted within 30 minutes.
North Korea conducted its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch in a month on Thursday, April 13, 2023, possibly testing a new type of more mobile, harder-to-detect weapons system, its neighbors said.
It was the North’s first long-range missile test since the country tested its longest-range, liquid-fueled Hwasong-17 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile on March 16, 2023.
Sirens blared across Hokkaido and residents were told to “evacuate immediately” on Thursday morning. Authorities said the missile did not land near the island and withdrew the alert.
Tensions have been growing in the region, as North Korea has already fired 27 missiles this year.
The missile is believed to be of medium or longer range, but details on what weapon was tested on Thursday morning have not yet been made public.
Meanwhile, Japanese coast guards said the missile had splashed into waters to the east of North Korea. Japan’s Defense Minister, Yasukazu Hamada said he could not confirm whether the missile flew over Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
This latest launch came days after North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un ordered his military to adopt a “more practical and offensive” manner in war deterrence, as reported by its state media agency.
For the past week, North Korea has not been answering twice-daily phone calls from South Korea, which has concerned the government in Seoul.
The two Koreas typically exchange calls at 09:00 and 15:00 local time (00:00 and 06:00 GMT) via a military hotline. These daily check-ins are intended to prevent clashes along the countries’ border.
Earlier this week, South Korea’s Unification Minister, Kwon Young-se described the North’s suspension of communication as “unilateral and irresponsible”.
“Pyongyang’s provocations continue past its protest of U.S-South Korea defense exercises because Kim Jong-un hasn’t finished demonstrating his nuclear delivery capabilities yet,” Leif-Eric Easley, a Professor at Ewha University in Seoul, opined.
“However, with the North Koreans literally not answering the phone, the lack of hotlines and diplomacy increases the risk of unintended escalation,” the Professor said.
Officials Condemn The Missile Launch
U.S. National Security Council Spokesperson, Adrienne Watson noted that the latest launch “needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region.”
Watson said the United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland and South Korean and Japanese allies.
During an emergency National Security Council meeting in Seoul, officials condemned the launch and stressed the need to tighten three-way security cooperation with Washington and Tokyo.
Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida held a Japanese National Security Council meeting to analyze the missile as well as Japan’s response to it.
The top nuclear envoys of Seoul, Washington and Tokyo held a telephone conversation where they called for a “decisive and united international response” to North Korean provocations and stronger efforts to stem illicit North Korean activities that allegedly fund its weapons program.
North Korea has been working to increase its nuclear arsenal and build ever-more sophisticated weapons. It has also criticized joint military exercises between the U.S and South Korea, accusing them of escalating tensions.
The latest missile launch also comes two days before the birthday of North Korea’s founding leader Kim Il Sung – the biggest annual holiday on the country’s calendar.
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