South Korea has fired a ballistic missile into the Yellow Sea in response to North Korea’s recent missile test. This was reported by Yonhap news agency with reference to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of South Korea.
According to the military, a short-range ballistic missile Hyunmoo-II was fired during an exercise in Taeyang County, 108 km from Seoul, in the Chungcheongnam Province. The launch came a few days after the DPRK tested its short-range missiles.
During the exercise, a strike on a DPRK ship was practiced, from which a missile was simulated, the JCS said. The purpose of the manoeuvres was to demonstrate Seoul’s readiness to ‘respond to any provocation’ from Pyongyang.
On 31 October, the DPRK tested its newest intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasal-19, which reached an altitude of 7,687.5 km and travelled more than 1,000 km. On 5 October, North Korea also launched seven short-range ballistic missiles.
North Korea has a law that allows the use of nuclear weapons ‘in case of threat’. According to this document, the DPRK can use its nuclear arsenal in the event of an imminent attack on the leadership or to win a war.
From time to time, the DPRK tests various missiles in the East or Yellow Sea, leaving warheads in the water. This is a matter of concern for Japan and South Korea, which, together with the United States, are discussing steps to contain the DPRK and reduce the threat from Pyongyang.
