North Korea fires ballistic missiles, U.S. condemns provocation

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced on the morning of September 18, local time, that North Korea has launched unidentified ballistic missiles toward the northeast. The military is currently analyzing the missile’s type, flight distance, and other specifications.

This latest provocation comes just six days after North Korea’s last ballistic missile launch on September 12.

The missile launch follows North Korea’s revelation, through state media on September 13, of a facility used for producing highly enriched uranium (HEU), a key material for nuclear warheads. The continued provocations come as South Korea prepares to celebrate its national holiday, Chuseok, or fall harvest festival.

The U.S. Department of State condemned North Korea’s recent ballistic missile launches on September 17.

“The United States condemns the DPRK’s September 17, 2024 ballistic missile launches (Washington time),” a spokesperson told Voice of America.

“These launches, like all the DPRK’s other ballistic missile launches in recent years, are in violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions. They pose a threat to regional and international peace and security and undermine the global nonproliferation regime.”

The spokespersons explained that the U.S. government continues to consult closely with its allies and partners about how best to deter DPRK aggression and coordinate international responses to the DPRK’s violations of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.

“Our commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea and Japan is ironclad,” the spokesperson added.

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command also released a statement after North Korea’s missile launch on September 17.

“We are aware of the DPRK’s ballistic missile launches and are consulting closely with the Republic of Korea and Japan, as well as other regional allies and partners,” the statement read.

“The United States condemns these actions and calls on the DPRK to refrain from further unlawful and destabilizing acts. While we have assessed that this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel, or territory, or to our allies, we continue to monitor the situation. The U.S. commitments to the defense of the ROK and Japan remain ironclad.”

BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]