North Korea Launches Ballistic Missiles During Kim Jong Un’s Foreign Trip

MINISTRY OF DEFENSE: North Korea Launches Ballistic Missiles

SEOUL/TOKYO – In a recent statement, the Ministry of Defense has revealed that North Korea has carried out a ballistic missile launch. The missiles were fired towards the east and are said to have fallen into the Sea of Japan, outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

This event marks the first time North Korea has launched a ballistic missile during Kim Jong Un’s foreign visit. The Supreme Leader is currently in Russia and is scheduled to meet with President Putin later today.

According to the Japanese Ministry of Defense, both missiles reached a maximum altitude of approximately 50 kilometers. The first missile reportedly traveled around 350 kilometers, while the second covered a distance of approximately 650 kilometers. The trajectory of the first launch is still under analysis, and the second missile followed an irregular path.

Following the news, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno expressed his strong condemnation of North Korea, stating that Japan had lodged a protest with North Korea’s embassy in Beijing. Matsuno affirmed Japan’s commitment to collecting and analyzing information through various channels.

Meanwhile, renowned expert Michael Madden from the Stimson Center, a US think tank, shed light on North Korea’s recent missile launches during Kim Jong Un’s trip. Madden explained that a new system has been implemented in recent years, enabling Kim to authorize missile launches remotely by providing a password over the phone. This system appears to have evolved from the previous one, allowing delegated authority to trusted agents. As Kim travels abroad, the distribution of power is thought to be invested in high-ranking officials such as Cho Yong Won, Choe Ryong Hae, and Kim Yo Jong, his sister.

As the situation develops, Japan’s Fumio Kishida administration is simultaneously undergoing a cabinet reshuffle.

In conclusion, the Ministry of Defense has expressed concern over North Korea’s recent missile launch, emphasizing that it will continue to closely monitor and analyze the situation. The international community is eagerly awaiting further updates on the matter.

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On September 13, the Ministry of Defense announced a possible ballistic missile launch from North Korea. The picture shows the flag of North Korea. Photo taken in October 2014 in Geneva (2023 Reuters/Denis Balibouse)

[Seoul/Tokyo (Reuters)]- Japanese and South Korean defense authorities announced on the 13th that North Korea had launched two ballistic missiles towards the east. Both are believed to have fallen into the Sea of ​​Japan, outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

According to experts, this is the first time that North Korea has launched a ballistic missile during Kim Jong Un’s foreign trip. Kim Jong Il is visiting Russia and will meet with President Putin in the afternoon of the same day.

According to the Japanese Ministry of Defense, both missiles had a maximum altitude of about 50 kilometers, and the first one flew about 350 kilometers, while the second flew about 650 kilometers. The second shot flew on an irregular trajectory, and the trajectory of the first shot is also being analyzed.

At the press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said that he had lodged a strong protest against North Korea through the embassy in Beijing, and would continue to do everything in his power to gather and analyze information. and information monitoring and monitoring. On this day in Japan, the Fumio Kishida administration is proceeding with a cabinet reshuffle.

Michael Madden, an expert at the Stimson Center, a US think tank, said regarding the launch of missiles during Kim Jong Il’s foreign trip, there is a system in North Korea in recent years that allows Kim to give permission for missile launches through giving him a password over the phone It was noted that the system appeared to have moved from the previous system to one where authority could be delegated to trusted agents. During his trip abroad, he expressed the view that power could be transferred to party officials Cho Yong Won, Choe Ryong Hae, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly, and his sister Kim Yo Jong.

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