The UN Secretary General condemned the launch of another intercontinental ballistic missile, carried out this Monday by North Korea, and called for an end to such “provocative acts”, said the spokesman for António Guterres.
“The Secretary General strongly condemns the launch of another ICBM by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” Stephane Dujarric wrote in a statement.
North Korea fired two missiles, the South Korean military announced, less than 48 hours after joint military exercises between Washington and Seoul.
Initially, South Korean military officials only mentioned the launch of a missile.
At the same time, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un threatened to retaliate against joint military exercises between Seoul and Washington.
Pyongyang previously threatened an “unprecedented” response to the annual spring military exercises Seoul and Washington are preparing for March, which the regime described as “preparations for a war of aggression.”
On Friday, North Korea launched the Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile from the east coast in the first such test since January 1, crashing into the Sea of Japan.
In response to this release, the Japanese government, through the voice of the Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, condemned a “scandalous act” that “increased the provocation against the international community.”
Next week, the South Korean and US militaries will also hold a tabletop exercise at the Pentagon simulating a nuclear attack by Pyongyang.
In 2022, North Korea carried out a record number of missile launches, around fifty, in many cases in response to the joint maneuvers of the two allies and the strengthening of the US strategic presence on the peninsula.
Source: TSF
