The first U.S. nuclear missile submarine has docked in South Korea for the first time in four decades.
North Korea has launched two ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan, putting on another show of its strategic weaponry amid increasing nuclear tensions with Washington.
The two missiles were launched from the Sunan area, northeast of Pyongyang, early Wednesday morning, and traveled 550 - 600 km 340 - 370 miles before falling into the Sea of Japan known as the East Sea by the two Koreans, according to Japanese and South Korean military statements. They reached an altitude of about 50 kilometers.
The USS Kentucky is the first port call on the island since a United States nuclear ballistic missile submarine has docked in Busan since the 1980s.
South Korea's defense minister, Lee Jong-sup, boasted on Tuesday that the deployment of US nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines SSBNs on the Korean Peninsula is an example of action demonstrating that the US extended deterrence against the Republic of Korea will be firmly implemented. This year, Pyongyang and Washington have ramped up alleged provocations against each other, including a spate of missile tests by North Korea and large-scale military exercises by US and South Korean forces. The North Korean government has vowed that they must continue to display their country's military might, including its nuclear weapons program, to ensure peace and stability despite escalating threats from the gangster-like Americans. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters on Sunday that Washington is willing to hold peace talks with North Korea. North Korean foreign policy chief Kim Yo-jong, sister of leader Kim Jong-un, rejected the offer a day later and said it would be senseless to permanently quit Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program in exchange for concessions that the US could quickly reverse.
On Friday, North Korea launched its latest version of its intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-18, a show of force after Pyongyang accused the US of flying a spy plane over its exclusive economic zone.
A new wrinkle has been added to the tensions on Tuesday when a US soldier voluntarily dashed across the border into North Korea while on an orientation tour at the joint security area in Panmunjom. He was taken into custody by North Korean authorities. The United Nations Command, which oversees the demilitarized zone at the border, said it was working with North Korea's military to resolve this incident.
8 Comments
Raphael
The demonstration of North Korea's strategic weaponry is a display of their national sovereignty and an assertion of their strength as a nation.
Leonardo
The international community should take stronger action to condemn North Korea's missile tests and impose additional sanctions to deter further provocative actions.
Comandante
The development of intercontinental ballistic missiles by North Korea increases the possibility of them being capable of reaching the US mainland, which is a significant concern for national security.
Katchuka
The missile tests serve as a way for North Korea to assert its presence on the international stage and demand recognition as a global power.
Habibi
North Korea's nuclear program is seen by its leadership as essential for the survival of the regime and a means to ensure its security.
Coccinella
The incident with the US soldier crossing the border highlights the need for better communication and understanding between North Korea and the US to prevent further incidents.
Mariposa
The will to display their military might comes from the ongoing threat perception that North Korea faces due to historical factors and its geopolitical situation.
Korsika
North Korea's continuous missile tests violate numerous United Nations resolutions and contribute to instability in the region.