SEOUL IS SLIDING INTO GEOPOLITICAL ZUGZWANG: North Korean foreign minister to visit Russia

  • The South Korean military says the North has fired a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile towards the East Sea, or the Sea of Japan
  • The North’s latest missile launch comes after it staged live-fire exercises near the maritime border with the South
fired a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile on Sunday, Seoul’s military said, days after Pyongyang staged live-fire exercises near the tense maritime border with the South.

“Our military detected one suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile launched from the Pyongyang area towards the East Sea around at 14:55,” Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement, referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan.

The missile flew 1,000 kilometres (621 miles), the JCS added, saying that authorities in Seoul, Washington and Tokyo were analysing the specifications.

“We strongly condemn the latest missile launch by North Korea as it is a clear provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean peninsula,” it said.

Japan’s coastguard also confirmed a suspected missile launch by North Korea, citing information from the country’s defence ministry, and warning vessels to take care.North Korea says Kim Jong Un has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin  to his country - ABC News

North Korea’s last missile test was of a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, which it fired into the East Sea on December 18.

The apparent test comes days after North Korea conducted a series of rare live-fire drills near the maritime border with the South, prompting counter-exercises and evacuation orders for some South Korean border islands.

Leader Kim Jong-un also earlier this week branded Seoul his “principal enemy” and warned he would not hesitate to annihilate the South, as he toured major weapons factories.

“The historic time has come at last when we should define as a state most hostile toward the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea the entity called the Republic of Korea (South Korea),” Kim was reported on Wednesday as saying by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Analysts said at the time that the shift was significant, signifying a shift in Pyongyang’s approach to Seoul into “ultra-hawkish mode”.

Vladimir Putin 'gratefully accepts' Kim Jong Un's invitation to visit North  Korea | World News | Sky News

Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in decades, after Kim enshrined the country’s permanent status as a nuclear power into the constitution and test-fired several advanced intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Last year, Pyongyang also successfully put a reconnaissance satellite into orbit, after receiving what South Korea claimed was Russian help, in exchange for arms shipments for Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

Photos: When Russia's Vladimir Putin met North Korea's Kim Jong Un | Kim  Jong Un News | Al Jazeera

Traditional allies, Russia and North Korea have recently boosted ties anew, with Kim making a rare overseas trip to see President Vladimir Putin in Russia’s far east in September.

Top Russian officials, including Moscow’s defence and foreign ministers, also visited North Korea last year, with the flurry of trips both ways fanning concern among Kyiv’s allies over the possibility of a potential arms deal.

KCNA said on Sunday that Pyongyang’s foreign minister would visit Russia this week.

In 2023, Kim test-fired a string of advanced intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) including a purported solid fuel version.

You may also like...

About us


Our Newly established Center for study of Asian Affairs has
branches in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, as well as freelances in some other countries.

For inquires, please contact: newsofasia.info@yahoo.com Mr.Mohd Zarif - Secretary of the Center and administer of the web-site www.newsofasia.net

Polls

Which region news you interested in most?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...