North Korea fired two short-range ballistic
missiles into the East Sea on March 2nd [KST].
The Ministry of National Defense announced
on the same day, “North Korea launched two short-range
ballistic missiles toward the East Sea between 6:32.a.m. and 6:41a.m. today,
with a range of approximately 490 km.”
The South Korean military officials see the
launches as a protest against annual joint military exercises between the
United States and South Korea, known as Key Resolve and Foal Eagle. North
Korea has continuously demanded an end to these exercises, classifying them as
preparations for an invasion of the North and frequently insinuated the
possibility of a “military response” if the drills are carried
out.
The General Staff Department of the Chosun
People’s Army announced that it will “not stand by
and let these exercises take place,” adding threats that the South would
“continually regret [them].”
“These exercises are basically preparations
to eliminate our chief executives and occupy Pyongyang. We will not stand idly
by and let this dreadful situation occur,” the statement released by the
department read.
Daily NK spoke about the incident with Shin
In Kyoon, head of the Korea Defense Network, who said, “This launch was particularly provocative, given that North rarely
sets the dates for missile launches to coincide with start date of the joint military
drills. These launches carried intentional political implications because Key
Resolve and Foul Eagle largely involve tactics to prepare for and handle a
denuclearization scenario.”
Shin added, “If
they’re proven to be rodong rather than scud missiles, it will
indicate that the North is not simply showing off its military force; it’s a
provocation of sorts that scoffs at the ROK-U.S. joint drills aimed at removing
the North’s nuclear threats. ”
The ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command
initiated Key Resolve and Foal Eagle are scheduled to continue until the 13th
and 24th of this month, respectively.
Approximately 8,600 U.S. soldiers and
100,000 South Korean soldiers take part in Key Resolve. a command post exercise
applying a joint plan against local provocations from the North.
Approximately 3,700 U.S. soldiers and more
than 200,000 South Korean soldiers in division equivalent and upper forces are
participating in Foal Eagle, a field military exercise wherein predominately South Korean forces focus on preparations to protect the nation’s critical
facilities in the event of their attack.
