North Korea launches missile, blames U.S. for escalating tensions
OAN’s Abril Elfi
3:13 PM – Sunday, December 17, 2023
North Korea Fires Missile into East Sea, Blames United States for Tensions
According to South Korea, North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile into the sea on Sunday, potentially as a protest against recent moves by Seoul and Washington to strengthen their nuclear deterrent against North Korean threats.
The missile was fired at approximately 10:38 p.m. from a location close to Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, and traveled 354 miles before splashing down in the sea, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea.
The South Korean military announced that it was providing the launch data to the U.S. and Japan for additional analysis while keeping an eye out for potential North Korean military actions.
The launch was denounced as a “blatant violation” of resolutions passed by the U.N. Security Council prohibiting North Korea from utilizing ballistic technologies.
Following high-level security discussions over the weekend in Washington, DPRK and US officials decided to update their nuclear deterrence and contingency plans and include nuclear operation scenarios in their combined military exercises next summer in order to meet the North’s evolving threats. This was the immediate cause of North Korea’s most recent launch.
North Korea’s Defense Ministry swiftly condemned Washington and Seoul’s decision to incorporate nuclear operation scenarios in their joint drills, calling it an open threat to use nuclear weapons against the North and promising to prepare unidentified “offensive countermeasures.”
The North Korean ministry further criticized the U.S. for what it called a “reckless military threat” that was destabilizing the region, accusing it of sending more and more powerful military equipment, such as nuclear-powered submarines and strategic bombers, to South Korea as a show of strength.
“The armed forces of the DPRK will thoroughly neutralize the U.S. and its vassal forces’ attempt to ignite a nuclear war and thus reliably ensure peace and security on the Korean peninsula,” a ministry spokesman said.
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What potential measures have been taken by the international community to deter North Korea from using its nuclear weapons and manage the situation diplomatically?
Is allies’ reckless military threat with powerful pre-emptive strikes of its own style,” the North Korean ministry said in a statement.
This latest missile launch comes amid increasing tensions between North Korea and the United States. The Biden administration has indicated a willingness to engage in diplomatic talks with North Korea, but no progress has been made so far. The United States has maintained a policy of denuclearization as a prerequisite for any negotiations, while North Korea has refused to give up its nuclear weapons program, citing security concerns.
The recent decision by the United States and South Korea to update their military exercises and include nuclear operation scenarios has further exacerbated the situation. North Korea sees this as a direct threat to its sovereignty and a provocation.
The international community has condemned North Korea’s missile launches and called for restraint on all sides. The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting to discuss the situation and expressed grave concern over the escalating tensions.
It remains to be seen how the Biden administration will respond to this latest provocation by North Korea. The United States has previously employed a mix of economic sanctions and international pressure to try to curb North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, but these measures have been largely ineffective.
Some experts argue that a new approach is needed, one that focuses on addressing the underlying security concerns of North Korea and providing a path for it to denuclearize in a way that ensures its own security. This would require a significant shift in the current dynamics and a willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue.
However, others believe that North Korea’s leadership is unlikely to give up its nuclear weapons program, seeing it as essential for the regime’s survival. They argue that the focus should instead be on deterring North Korea from using its nuclear weapons and managing the tensions through diplomatic channels.
As tensions continue to rise on the Korean Peninsula, it is clear that the situation is becoming increasingly precarious. The international community must work together to find a peaceful resolution and prevent a further escalation of conflict.
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