 According to South Korea and Japan, North Korea launches at least 1 ballistic missile on June 5th, 2022. (Photo: Arirang) |
Worrying developments
On June 7 the US and South Korean military conducted an air strike drill in the Yellow Sea. The drill involved 20 fighter jets, including the F-35. This was their third drill in a week. On June 2nd they conducted a three-day exercise that included the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan for the first time since 2017. On June 6th they held a live fire exercise at sea and launched 8 missiles.
The two latest drills were a retaliation for North Korea’s launch on June 5th of 8 short-range ballistic missiles into the sea toward Japan, their 18th missiles test this year. North Korea has also issued many tough warnings to the US and South Korea. North Korea’s Ambassador to the UN Han Tae-song on June 2nd said North Korea is still at war with the US.
In response, Ned Price, a spokesman for the US State Department, said on June 6th that North Korea's ongoing provocations pose a threat to its neighbors and the world community. He warned that North Korea would be conducting a nuclear test in the coming days.
Three days ago South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol ordered “expanded deterrence of South Korea and the United States and continued reinforcement of a united defense posture”.
Japanese Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo called North Korea’s missile launches “unacceptable”.
Pursuing dialogue
Analysts say that with the Russia-Ukraine conflict showing no sign of ending soon, tensions on the Korean peninsula pose a particularly dangerous challenge to global peace and stability. Dialogue and diplomatic contact are crucial now.
Mr. Price told a press conference on Monday that the US is open to talks with North Korea and is calling on Pyongyang to rejoin the dialogue on denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
Nuclear envoys for South Korea, Japan, and the US met in Seoul last Friday and sent a similar message calling on North Korea to sit down and talk seriously about peace.
Although North Korea says it is still at war with the US, it insists it is committed to global peace and disarmament.