CTTO/CNN
Seoul, South Korea — A ballistic missile launched by North Korea on Monday may have experienced an “abnormal” flight trajectory and could have fallen inland, potentially near Pyongyang, according to the South Korean military.
North Korea launched two ballistic missiles early Monday morning, as reported by the South Korean, American, and Japanese governments. The launches occurred at 5:05 a.m. and 5:15 a.m. local time, with the first missile traveling 600 kilometers (373 miles) and the second 120 kilometers (75 miles), stated South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
Lee Sung-jun, spokesperson for the JCS, commented on the differing flight distances in a briefing. “There is the possibility that the second launched missile had an abnormal flight in the early stage,” he said. He suggested that if the missile exploded during its flight, debris could have fallen inland. The military is currently analyzing various possibilities but has not confirmed any damage.
The first missile was identified as a short-range ballistic missile. However, Lee did not specify the type of the second missile, leaving open the possibility that it could be a new weapon. The missiles were launched from the Changyon-gun area of South Hwanghae province, approximately 130 kilometers (81 miles) southwest of Pyongyang.
Based on the launch site’s location and the second missile’s 120-kilometer (75-mile) northeast trajectory, any explosion debris could have landed near Pyongyang, North Korea’s largest city with over 3 million residents. The JCS has not confirmed any explosion near the capital.
Last week, North Korea claimed it had successfully tested the deployment of multiple warheads from a single-stage engine for a medium- to long-range ballistic missile. South Korea disputed this claim, stating the missile had exploded during the early stage of launch, not during the descending stage when warheads should separate.
North Korea has not issued any statements regarding Monday’s launches but previously criticized recent US-South Korea-Japan military exercises, dubbing them “reckless and provocative military muscle-flexing” and vowing to continue efforts to deter actions that disturb peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
The Korean War ended in 1953 with an armistice, not a peace treaty, meaning the two Koreas are technically still at war. Relations had improved somewhat in 2017 and 2018 but deteriorated as North Korea ramped up weapons testing, defying UN sanctions, and diplomatic talks stalled.
Both Koreas are strengthening ties with their allies. North Korea recently signed a defense agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, while South Korea has increased cooperation with Japan and the United States.
Leif-Eric Easley, professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, suggested that Monday’s missile tests served dual purposes for the Kim regime. “These missile launches are likely the Kim regime’s way of compensating for recent failed tests, aiming to impress a domestic audience during ruling party meetings,” Easley said. “Pyongyang is also determined not to appear weak while South Korea conducts defense exercises with Japan and the United States.”