North Korea Launches Another Ballistic Missile Ahead of US Election Season

Photo : AP

North Korea fired a ballistic missile early Tuesday, marking the country’s second missile launch in just days and occurring just hours before Americans cast their votes in the presidential election. South Korea’s military reported the launch, with Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff stating that an unidentified ballistic missile was fired from North Korea's east coast, landing in what is known as the East Sea or Sea of Japan. Details about the missile and its trajectory are still under analysis.

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The launch was also confirmed by Tokyo, which labeled it a "suspected ballistic missile" launch. This follows North Korea's test on Thursday of what it claimed was its most advanced solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which was notable as it marked Kim Jong Un’s first weapons test since allegations emerged that North Korean troops were being sent to assist Russia in its conflict with Ukraine.

Just hours before this latest missile test, U.S. and South Korean defense chiefs had urged North Korea to withdraw any deployed troops, which reportedly included soldiers wearing Russian uniforms being prepared for potential actions against Ukraine. In response to the previous ICBM launch, South Korea, Japan, and the United States conducted a joint air drill involving a U.S. B-1B bomber alongside South Korea's F-15K and KF-16 jets and Japan’s F-2 fighters. 

These military exercises are perceived by Pyongyang as provocative rehearsals for invasion, intensifying tensions on the peninsula. Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, criticized the joint drill, calling it an example of the "hostile and dangerous aggressive nature of the enemy." In a statement from the state-run Korean Central News Agency, she asserted that these drills affirm the necessity of strengthening North Korea's nuclear capabilities and warned that any shift in the balance of power could lead to war.

Analysts speculate that North Korea’s recent weapons tests may serve as a distraction from its alleged troop deployments to Russia or aim to elevate the country’s visibility ahead of the U.S. elections. South Korea has long accused the North of providing weapons to support Moscow in its war against Ukraine. Furthermore, there are concerns that North Korea could be receiving advanced military technology from Russia in exchange for its assistance.

While North Korea has denied sending troops, its vice foreign minister has claimed that any potential deployment would be consistent with international law. Amid these rising tensions, South Korea is reportedly reviewing its arms export policies, considering the possibility of directly supplying weapons to Ukraine, a move it has traditionally avoided due to its longstanding policy against providing arms to active conflict zones.