North Korea's Missile Provocation: A Threat to Peace in Korean Peninsula

North Korea launched short-range ballistic missiles, detected by South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. The US Indo-Pacific Command and regional allies condemned these actions, calling them destabilizing. The recent escalation comes amid North Korea's ongoing efforts to enhance its nuclear readiness, raising tensions in the region.

North Korea has launched short-range ballistic missiles, according to local media reports from South Korea and Japan. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported detecting the launches from North Korea's Kaechon area at around 6:50 am. The missiles traveled approximately 400 kilometers, reported Yonhap news agency.

"We strongly condemn North Korea's missile launches as clear acts of provocation that seriously threaten peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," the JCS stated. Japanese state media, citing government sources, confirmed the missiles likely fell outside Japan's exclusive economic zone into the sea, according to the Japan Coast Guard.

The US Indo-Pacific Command expressed awareness of Pyongyang's "ballistic missile launches" and stated, "We are consulting closely with South Korea and Japan, as well as other regional allies and partners. The United States condemns these actions and urges the DPRK to refrain from further unlawful and destabilizing acts. Although we have determined that this event does not pose an immediate threat to US personnel, territory, or our allies, we continue to monitor the situation closely."

The US remains firm in its defense commitments to South Korea and Japan, added the statement. This development follows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's inspection of a uranium enrichment facility last week.

On September 12, North Korea test-fired a new 600mm multiple rocket launcher. In August, Kim Jong Un called for more "suicide drones" to enhance war preparedness. Earlier, 250 new tactical nuclear-capable ballistic missile launchers were unveiled, described as "pivot military hardware" during a speech where Kim stressed enhanced nuclear readiness to counter US-led nuclear threats.

A New York Times report mentioned that US President Joe Biden authorized a classified document in March preparing US forces for potential nuclear confrontations with Russia, China, and North Korea. In July, Quad foreign ministers criticized North Korea's defiance of UN Security Council resolutions on nuclear weapons and ballistic missile technology, urging compliance.

The latest missile launch likely involved missiles from North Korea's Hwasong-11 family, which were test-fired in July, as per Seoul's Yonhap news outlet. On July 1, North Korea fired two ballistic missiles northeastward, one landing in the East Sea and another disappearing mid-flight.

Yonhap reported North Korean state media the following day confirmed the test-firing of the new Hwasong-11Da4.5 missile, capable of carrying a 4.5-ton warhead.

(With inputs from agencies.)