North Korea launches ballistic missile just before US election

North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles, South Korea's military said, a day after the country asserted its stance on accelerating its nuclear program.

South Korean people watch news of North Korea's missile launch at a train station in Seoul.

Yonhap news agency reported that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) launched several short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast on November 5, just before the US presidential election.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) confirmed the launch and is conducting further analysis. Japanese officials also said North Korea launched another ballistic missile, calling it a provocation, according to NHK.

The missile appeared to have landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone, the report said. The Japanese Coast Guard is directing ships around the country to monitor for updates.

North Korea has not immediately commented on the reports.

Earlier on October 31, North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from the Pyongyang area into the sea.

On November 4, North Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Kim Song said that the country will accelerate the development of its nuclear weapons program to deal with "hostile nuclear weapons states".

"The US nuclear threat to [North Korea] has reached a critical point in terms of scale and danger. Due to the US's reckless moves, the situation is potentially approaching the brink of war," Mr. Kim said.

US, South Korean fighter jets conduct drills after North Korea launches missile

The remarks came just days after North Korea test-fired its first intercontinental ballistic missile this year. The meeting was convened by the UN Security Council following the launch.

At the meeting, the US accused some countries of protecting North Korea at the United Nations from "greater scrutiny of sanctions violations" and said Pyongyang had been "encouraged to continue advancing its unlawful nuclear, ballistic missile and weapons of mass destruction programs".

In a statement to deter North Korea, the US, South Korea and Japan conducted a joint air force exercise on November 3. The South Korean military said the exercise involved US B-1B bombers, South Korean F-15K and KF-16 fighters and Japanese F-2 fighters, according to AFP.

"The exercise demonstrates the commitment of the South Korea-US alliance to strengthen extended deterrence to respond to growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea," the JSC stressed.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/trieu-tien-phong-ten-lua-dan-dao-ngay-truoc-them-bau-cu-my-185241105064813427.htm