North Korea fires several cruise missiles off its west coast in latest “weapons test”

02/20/2024 / By Laura Harris

North Korea has conducted its fifth test launch of cruise missiles in the Sea of Japan since January.

This comes just around one month after North Korea fired over 200 rounds of artillery shells off its west coast, targeting Yeonpyeong Island in South Korea. The incident is similar to the 2010 attack on Yeonpyeong, but this time, the artillery shells did not breach South Korean territory. Instead, it landed in the buffer zone between the two nations. Just like the recent attack, South Korea condemns the act as a provocative act.

According to the state-owned Korean Central News Agency, the test of the new Padasuri-6 surface-to-sea missiles marks the sixth missile launch event of the year for North Korea, following the test-firing of a solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile on January 14.

Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un said in a statement that the missiles hit their intended targets after flying over the sea for 1,400 seconds. He even ordered the military to enhance readiness in disputed waters north of the South Korean border island of Yeonpyeong.

In response, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that the United States and South Korean militaries are closely monitoring signs of further activity from North Korea. However, the exact number of missiles fired and their range remain undisclosed. It is still unclear whether the missiles were launched from land or sea assets.

“Our military has increased surveillance and vigilance and is working closely with our U.S. partners and is closely monitoring signs for further activity from North Korea,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

Experts believe North Korea posturing for next U.S. president

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been escalating in recent months as Kim accelerates weapons development and issues provocative threats of nuclear conflict with the United States and its allies.

North Korea has tested new cruise missiles intended for submarine deployment and long-range cruise missiles with the potential to reach U.S. military bases in Japan.

In response, the U.S., South Korea and Japan have intensified military exercises and refined their nuclear deterrence strategies, which North Korea views as rehearsals for an invasion.

Experts believe that North Korea’s recent actions, including the missile launches and the demolition of the reconciliation monument, may be aimed at increasing its bargaining power in anticipation of negotiations with the winner of the U.S. presidential election in November.

The long-term goal appears to be forcing Washington to acknowledge North Korea as a nuclear power and extracting security and economic concessions from a position of strength.

North Korea has a history of ramping up pressure on South Korea when seeking concessions from Washington. (Related: North Korea’s Kim Jong Un deems South Korea Pyongyang’s ENEMY NO. 1.)

Experts suggest that North Korea may be attempting to diminish South Korea’s role in regional nuclear discussions and establish direct dealings with the United States to solidify its nuclear status.

Head over to WWIII.news for more stories about the impending conflict in the Korean peninsula.

Watch a report about North Korea firing shots near South Korea.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.