Additional Coverage:
SEOUL, July 1 – South Korean military officials reported that a missile fired by North Korea on Monday might have malfunctioned and exploded in the air, scattering debris across the land, according to United Press International.
Early Monday, authorities in Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff detected the launch of two short-range ballistic missiles from Jangyon, located in the southwestern part of North Korea. The first missile was successfully launched at 5:05 a.m., traveling approximately 370 miles before splashing down off Chongjin, a city in the northeast. However, the second missile, launched ten minutes later at 5:15 a.m., covered only about 75 miles before it is believed to have failed and possibly exploded mid-flight.
Colonel Lee Sung-jun, a spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, indicated at a press briefing that the second missile showed abnormal behavior shortly after its launch, suggesting a premature explosion that may have caused debris to fall inland. The military is currently analyzing the launch in detail.
Previous tests from the Jangyon region included launches of the KN-23 missile in March of the previous year, a model noted for its maneuverability and believed to be similar to weapons used by Russia in Ukraine. Monday’s launch might have included one such KN-23 missile, although speculation exists that the second missile could represent a new type of weapon.
These tests happen against a backdrop of increasing military cooperation and a newly forged defense treaty between North Korea and Russia. Speculations are rife that North Korea is conducting these tests and bolstering weapon production with the intention of equipping Moscow and other potential buyers.
Earlier in the month, U.S. State Department spokesman Matt Miller reported North Korea’s delivery of numerous ballistic missiles and thousands of munitions containers to aid Russia’s military efforts.
Despite denials from Russia and North Korea, evidence presented to the U.N. Security Council on Friday claimed to definitively prove the use of North Korean missiles in the conflict in Ukraine, possibly including the KN-23 or KN-24 systems.
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, based in Hawaii, acknowledged awareness of these missile launches and is coordinating closely with allies. They condemned North Korea’s actions and urged a halt to further destabilizing activities, adding that the recent events do not immediately threaten the U.S., its territories, or allies, though they continue to closely observe developments.
These missile launches come amid condemnation from Pyongyang regarding a recently concluded trilateral military exercise between the U.S., South Korea, and Japan, which North Korea described as provocative and likened the allied relationship to an “Asian NATO.”
North Korea remains defiant, stating it will take decisive countermeasures to protect its sovereignty, security interests, and regional peace. This stance follows an incident last week where another North Korean missile test failed, a claim Pyongyang contested by announcing a successful multiple-warhead missile test, which the South Korean military refuted by showcasing footage of the errant missile.