North Korea launched yet another ballistic missile into the East Sea this week.
The regime has also sent more balloons carrying waste into the South.
For more , we have our North Korean affairs correspondent Kim Jung-sil with me in the studio.
Welcome back Jung-sil, it’s been quite a week for developments in North Korea.
First, tell us about Pyongyang’s latest missile launch.
Eunji, early on Wednesday morning, North Korea fired yet another ballistic missile into the East Sea.
The regime usually publishes the result of the launch the next day and on Thursday, the day after the launch, it claimed success in launching a multiple-warhead missile.
North Korea’s state-run media said Wednesday’s launch was to secure the capability to fire multiple warheads on a single ballistic missile.
Here’s where it gets interesting.
The South Korean military has announced that Wednesday’s launch was a failure.
“The missile launched by North Korea yesterday exploded in the early stages of the flight. North Korea has revealed the result in a different context this morning, and I think it is nothing more than a means of deception and exaggeration. Anyone can tell that the launch wasn’t normal if you look at numerous videos and photos taken by civilians.”
The South’s military said it’s sure Wednesday’s launch was a failure.
Some experts had said it’s too soon to tell if the launch succeeded or not but the military said its judgment is based on further analysis using more sophisticated equipment and other means.
It also suggested there’s a chance North Korea tampered with the photo of the missile.
“What North Korea released today is similar to the Hwasong-17 liquid-fueled ICBM launched on March 16th, 2023. There’s a possibility that the photo was tampered.”
The South’s military added that Pyongyang’s claim that the test was successful could also be aimed at covering up last month’s military reconnaissance satellite launch that failed.
On May 28th, the North’s leader let the residents know about the failure and encouraged scientists.
Now then , what is the reason behind this launch?
Well , there seems to be a pattern Eun-ji. The regime usually launches something as a sign of protest over ongoing summits or joint military exercises between Seoul and Washington.
The military also believes Wednesday’s launch was due to the fact that the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt is taking part in the Freedom Edge joint military exercise between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan that began on Thursday.
Let’s talk about the balloons carrying waste that North Korea has been sending to the South.
What’s happening there?
Eunji, the regime has been sending hundreds of balloons just this week.
The balloons weighed up to 10 kilograms and were carrying cut-off papers , contrary to the initial type of balloons that the regime sent in late May that were carrying various trash including old clothes, and even fecal matter.
The North Korean leader’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, who practically serves as the leader’s secretary, has previously warned that more balloons will be sent to the South if it doesn’t stop sending leaflets to the North , referring to the propaganda leaflets sent to the North on June 20th by a North Korean defectors organization here in the South.
The South Korean government has been consistent with the court decision that distributing those leaflets should be guaranteed under freedom of expression.
A senior unification ministry official told reporters that North Korea sends balloons at a state level whereas leaflets sent from the South have nothing to do with the government , and that Seoul is abiding by last year’s court decision that stated banning leaflets against the North violates freedom of expression.
Most balloons are being sent from a North Korean defector organization called the ‘Fighters for a Free North Korea’ , which is a civic group.
They have reportedly sent dollar bills, medicine, leaflets containing information about Kim Jong-un, and USBs containing South Korean dramas and songs.
I see thank you for that report Jung-sil
You are welcome, Eun-ji.
Source : Arirang TV, https://www.arirang.com/news/view?id=272573
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