North Korea accused the US and South Korea of intenting to use its maneuvers to exterminate its army. Seoul dreamed that if the Dialogue could be resumed after the end of military exercises, a spokesman for the Committee for Peace-Building Reunification of the Korean-Korean Relations Committee said it would. „We have nothing more to discuss with the South Korean government.“
The statement mainly attacked South Korean President Moon Jae In. South Korea’s head of state is an „outrageous guy, as one rarely finds it,“ the spokesman was quoted by the North Korean state media. Moon had previously spoken of a series of „disturbing actions“ by North Korea the day before. At the same time, he expressed his confidence that the dialogue would continue.
South Korea reports unidentified projectiles
Friday morning, according to the South Korean forces, the North fired two unidentified short range projectiles from the east coast towards the open sea. North Korea has tested rockets five times in the past few weeks. Among the missiles tested were according to South Korean statements and ballistic missiles, the test of which the country by UN resolutions are prohibited.
The leadership in Pyongyang described the weapons tests partly in response to a military maneuver between South Korea and the US and as a „warning“. The annual exercises of the two allies in North Korea regularly cause angry reactions.
According to South Korea, the projectiles flew 230 kilometers at a maximum altitude of 30 kilometers during the most recent test. Which rocket type it was exactly, is so far unclear. The presidential office in Seoul called on the isolated neighboring country to stop the „launches of projectiles“. Such tests could increase military tensions on the Korean peninsula.
Seoul sees reaction to military maneuvers
Seoul had recently assessed the neighbor’s missile tests as a „demonstration of power“ against the joint military maneuvers that were holding South Korea’s forces with the US military. US President Donald Trump himself had been reluctant to speak. Trump insists that North Korea’s ruler Kim Jong Un wants to resume negotiations for disarmament of the North Korean nuclear weapons program.
UN resolutions prohibit North Korea – which has repeatedly tested atomic bombs – from launching ballistic missiles of any range. Such rockets are typically ground-to-surface missiles that can carry a conventional, chemical, biological or nuclear warhead.
According to expert also signal to Washington
Some analysts believe that North Korea’s recent provocation aims to urge Seoul to promote cross-border economic relations. In addition, Washington should be so convinced as to make concessions in future talks on Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program.
According to Yang Moo Jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, the North wants to save face for any future talks, he told the South Korean news agency Yonhap. „It also seems to be an indirect message aimed at changing Washington’s attitude, such as: For example, the easing of sanctions against the North. „
