JCS: "North Korea Launches Ballistic Missile from Wonsan Toward East Sea" (Comprehensive)

Just Two Days After Threatening "Retaliatory Action" Against U.S.-Led Exercises

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on the 20th that they detected a ballistic missile launched eastward from the Wonsan area in North Korea toward the East Sea at approximately 3 p.m.

North Korean tactical ballistic missile being launched with flames spewing. Photo by Yonhap News

The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, "Our military has strengthened surveillance and vigilance in preparation for additional launches, while South Korea, the United States, and Japan are closely sharing information on North Korea’s ballistic missiles and maintaining a high level of readiness." The military is currently conducting a detailed analysis of the specifications and range of the North Korean ballistic missile.

This launch comes as North Korea continues to respond to recent regional military activities led by the United States and involving Japan and South Korea. In a statement released on September 18, Kim Yo Jong, head of the Workers’ Party’s General Affairs Department, protested against the 'Pacific Vanguard' multilateral naval exercise organized by the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet by threatening that "retaliatory actions with proportional or even greater offensive capability" would be necessary. Kim emphasized, "Our will to defend our sovereignty will manifest in even more decisive action, and there will be absolutely no change in our path toward strengthening nuclear deterrence."

This is North Korea's 14th ballistic missile launch so far this year. The previous launch on September 12 occurred in the early morning, just one day after the conclusion of the ‘Freedom Edge’ trilateral multi-domain exercise among South Korea, the United States, and Japan. At that time, North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles from the Wonsan area into the East Sea. Two days later, North Korean external media revealed that the exercise was a coordinated fire strike drill involving the "mixed firing" of four types of weapons: tactical ballistic missiles, attack drones, strategic cruise missiles, and large-caliber thermobaric multiple rocket launchers.

The series of North Korean ballistic missile launches is also seen as a message to the United States, indicating its intent to continue advancing its deterrence capabilities. U.S. President Donald Trump last month instructed the reduction of U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises and publicly expressed his willingness to pursue U.S.-North Korea talks. On September 18 (local time), a senior U.S. official stated during a conference call briefing on the U.S.-China summit that "President Trump is prepared to talk with Kim Jong Un, either by phone or in person."

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited key defense production facilities from September 16 to 18, which appear to be manufacturing improved 600mm super-large (five-tube) multiple rocket launchers, new 240mm multiple rocket launchers, a North Korean version of the Harop drone, and other new drones, emphasizing the nation's powerful artillery capabilities.

There is speculation that North Korea's recent actions may be part of a war of nerves concerning the possibility of U.S.-North Korea dialogue. With U.S. President Trump scheduled to give a speech at the United Nations General Assembly on September 22 (local time), and the U.S.-China summit where the North Korea issue is expected to be discussed set for September 24, some observers suggest that North Korea is seeking to demonstrate that there can be no compromise on the construction of its nuclear and other deterrence capabilities.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.