North Korea fires missiles amid US bomber drills

author: FutureCar Staff    

North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles towards its eastern waters on Wednesday, according to South Korea's military. This comes just hours after the United States flew at least one long-range bomber to the Korean Peninsula as a show of force against North Korea. The missiles were launched late Wednesday evening from North Korea's capital region, as confirmed by South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.

In response to the missile launch, South Korea's military has increased its surveillance posture and maintained readiness in close coordination with the United States. Japan's Defense Ministry also announced that North Korea fired at least one suspected ballistic missile.

Earlier on Wednesday, the United States flew a B-1B bomber to the Korean Peninsula as part of field exercises with South Korea. These exercises are being held alongside the ongoing annual U.S.-South Korean computer-simulated command post exercise called "Ulchi Freedom Shield," which began on August 21. North Korea perceives these military drills as an invasion rehearsal.

North Korea is particularly sensitive to the deployment of U.S. B-1B bombers due to their capacity to carry a large payload of conventional weapons. This recent deployment marks the 10th flyover by U.S. bombers on the Korean Peninsula this year. South Korea's Defense Ministry confirmed that the bomber participated in aerial drills with other U.S. and South Korean warplanes in waters off the Korean Peninsula's west coast. These drills aimed to demonstrate the combined defense posture of the two countries and the U.S.' commitment to South Korea's defense.

On Tuesday, North Korea's state media reported that leader Kim Jong Un called for the military to be constantly ready for combat in order to thwart plans by its rivals to invade. In response, South Korea, the U.S., and Japan mobilized naval destroyers for a trilateral missile defense exercise off South Korea's southern Jeju island. Kim stated in a speech on Monday that the waters off the Korean Peninsula have become unstable due to U.S.-led hostilities, with the danger of a nuclear war.

Since the beginning of 2022, North Korea has conducted over 100 weapons tests, many of which involve nuclear-capable missiles targeting the U.S., South Korea, and Japan. Experts believe that North Korea aims to leverage its increased military capabilities to secure greater concessions from the U.S. In response to North Korea's testing spree, the U.S. and South Korea have expanded their drills, resumed trilateral training with Japan, and increased the visibility of U.S. strategic assets in the Korean Peninsula. In July, the United States deployed a nuclear-armed submarine to South Korea for the first time in four decades.

Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report.

Hyung-jin Kim, The Associated Press

FutureCar Staff