North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile; JCS Says It Flew 450 km into East Sea from Wonsan

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North Korea fired a ballistic missile on the afternoon of September 20, two days after threatening to take "responsive action" in protest against U.S.-led military drills in the Asia-Pacific region.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) stated today, "At around 3:00 p.m., we detected a ballistic missile launched into the East Sea from the area of Wonsan, North Korea."

The JCS added, "The detected North Korean missile flew about 450 kilometers, and South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are conducting a detailed analysis regarding its specific specifications."

It further noted, "While our military has strengthened surveillance and vigilance in preparation for additional launches, South Korea, the United States, and Japan are closely sharing information on the North Korean ballistic missile and maintaining full readiness."

The latest launch came as North Korea continues to protest various regional military moves led by the United States and joined by South Korea, Japan, and others.

In a statement by Kim Yo-jong, director of the General Affairs Department of the Workers' Party of Korea, released on September 18, North Korea denounced exercises such as "Pacific Vanguard," a multinational naval joint exercise led by the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet, and warned that "responsive action with proportionality or offensive nature exceeding it" was necessary.

In the statement, Director Kim also emphasized, "Our will to defend our sovereignty will be expressed in clearer actions, and there will be no slight change of course in the process of advancing our nuclear war deterrence."

North Korea has effectively carried out that "responsive action" by firing a ballistic missile just two days later.

The launch marked North Korea's 14th ballistic missile launch this year and came eight days after its previous launch on September 12, which took place in the early morning hours immediately after the conclusion of "Freedom Edge," a regular trilateral multidomain exercise among South Korea, the United States, and Japan.

At that time, North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea from the Wonsan area, and two days later disclosed through external state media that it was a combined firepower strike drill that carried out "mixed firing" of four weapon types: tactical ballistic missiles, attack drones, strategic cruise missiles, and large-caliber thermobaric multiple rocket launchers.

North Korea's consecutive ballistic missile launches are also interpreted as a message directed at the United States that it will continue its push to advance its deterrent capabilities according to its own military-technical needs.

U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly expressed his intention to pursue a U.S.-North Korea summit while directing a scale-back of South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises in August.

A senior U.S. official also reaffirmed during a phone briefing on the U.S.-China summit on September 18 (local time) that "President Trump is ready to talk with Kim Jong-un, whether by phone or in person."

However, North Korea appears to be focusing on strengthening its military capabilities rather than responding to the Trump administration's overtures for dialogue.

Pak Jong-chon, vice chairman of the Party Central Military Commission, inspected the combined firepower strike drill on September 12 and stressed that the ballistic missile launch was a legitimate action for routine training purposes, stating that the purpose was "to let the army do what it has to do."

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited key munitions factories believed to produce upgraded 600 mm super-large multiple rocket launchers (5-tube), new 240 mm multiple rocket launchers, North Korean versions of Harop drones, and new unmanned aerial vehicles between September 16 and 18, stressing the "building of powerful artillery armed forces."

Nonetheless, North Korea's recent moves can also be seen as part of a "test of wills" amid diplomatic maneuvering surrounding the possibility of U.S.-North Korea dialogue.

In particular, it is also seen as an attempt to imprint the view that its nuclear issue is "non-negotiable" ahead of President Trump's address at the United Nations General Assembly general debate starting on September 22 (local time) and the U.S.-China summit on September 24, where North Korean issues are expected to be discussed.

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