North Korea Launches Ballistic Missiles and Issues a Warning about Turning the Pacific into a “Firing Range.”

South Korea’s influential sister of leader Kim Jong Un ordered American forces to stop military drills, claiming the nuclear-armed state may transform the Pacific into a “firing range” after North Korea launched two more ballistic missiles off its east coast.

The launches came only two days after North Korea fired an ICBM into the ocean off the west coast of Japan, leading the United States to perform separate air exercises with Japan and South Korea on Sunday.

State-run media in North Korea reported the country launched two projectiles from multiple rocket launchers with corresponding targets located 395 km (245 miles) and 337 km (209 miles) apart.According to state news agency KCNA, the “600mm multiple rocket launcher mobilized in the shooting… is a means of tactical nuclear weapon” capable of “paralyzing” an opponent airfield.

The two missiles were fired at a maximum height of 50 and 100 kilometers, respectively, and fell outside of Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry.

Fumio Kishida, the prime minister of Japan, declared that he had asked for an urgent U.N. The Security Council will convene to discuss the tests around 2000 GMT on Monday, according to Jiji news agency.

Yet, chances for a fresh U.N. Given that China and Russia had previously blocked sanctions during the Ukrainian Crisis and a Sino-U.S. dispute involving Chinese balloons discovered in American airspace.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea strongly denounced the launches as a “grave provocation” that needed to end right once.

In reaction to Pyongyang’s most recent ICBM and missile tests, Seoul’s foreign ministry announced penalties on four people and five businesses connected to its weapons programs on Monday. It claimed that this was its fastest-ever response to the North’s provocations.

North Korea’s repeated provocations will result in strengthened South Korea-U.S. deterrence and tighter global sanctions, the ministry said in a statement. “Our administration has made it plain that North Korea’s provocations would undoubtedly come at a price,” the ministry said.

In accordance with Security Council resolutions, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric urged Pyongyang to “immediately stop from taking any more provocative steps” and restart disarmament talks.

RISING TENSIONS
During the weekend’s joint air drills with its Asian allies, Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim, issued a warning against a greater presence of strategic military assets from the United States.

In a remark reported by KCNA, she said, “The frequency of using the Pacific as our fire range relies upon the action type of the U.S. forces.”

This week, the US and South Korea will conduct mock nuclear tabletop drills to enhance the performance of US nuclear assets. In addition, the US and South Korea will conduct their annual springtime Freedom Shield field training in March.

The foreign ministry of Pyongyang announced last week that it would combat the exercises with “unprecedentedly relentless, robust counteractions.”

According to Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, “tension on the peninsula is likely to reach its peak in the coming months as North Korea is accelerating its military actions with higher frequency, and her statement indicates that it would continue impromptu missile tests using the Pacific as its shooting range.”

Kim’s reference to the Pacific implied that the North will launch more long-range missiles more frequently, according to Hong Min, a senior fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification in the South.

In addition, Kim Yo Jong called some South Korean specialists who questioned the accuracy of the ICBM capability and said that the “sudden” test on Saturday required nine hours of planning “disgusting” and “dumb.”

According to her, the launch occurred “at the most acceptable time” given the weather and after U.S. and South Korean scout planes left the area.

Instead of disbelieving or being concerned about other people’s technology, she advised them to think carefully about steps they could take to protect themselves. We reaffirm that we still want to hold the worst maniacs accountable for their actions, and that nothing has changed in that regard.