North Korea and South Korea both fired missiles on Wednesday (September 15th) in what looks like a real arms race between the two countries still technically at war.
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The United States "
condemned
" the North Korean shooting carried out "
in violation of several UN Security Council resolutions
" and which "
represents a threat to the neighbors
". But they also reaffirmed their call for "
dialogue
", so far remained unanswered from Pyongyang since the arrival of President Joe Biden at the White House in January.
The launch of two North Korean ballistic missiles towards the sea was followed a few hours later by that of a ballistic missile from a submarine by South Korea, supervised by President Moon Jae-in.
South Korea has thus become the seventh country in the world to have this cutting-edge technology, an important strategic advance for Seoul which gives it a head start over its neighbor to the north.
The latter is subject to international sanctions because of its banned nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
"Extraordinary timing"
"
Having two Koreas carrying out ballistic missile test fires on the same day is extraordinary timing
," John Delury, professor at Yonsei University, told AFP. “
It just goes to show that there is an arms race in this region that everyone needs to pay attention to.
The UN Security Council announced an emergency meeting on Wednesday on the shootings in the Korean peninsula, which will be held behind closed doors and informally.
According to Seoul's army, the North fired "
two short-range ballistic missiles from South Pyongan province (center) in an easterly direction towards the sea
."
They traveled about 800 kilometers at a maximum altitude of about 60 kilometers.
Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said they had fallen into the waters of Japan's exclusive economic zone.
South Korea's sea-to-ground ballistic missile (SLBM) was fired from the recently commissioned submarine Ahn Chang-ho and traveled the intended distance before reaching its target, the South Presidency said. -Korean.
All countries with SLBM are equipped with nuclear weapons.
"Renew the dialogue"
South Korea now has "
sufficient deterrence to respond to North Korea's provocations at any time,
" President Moon said. He drew a scathing retaliation from the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Kim Yo Jong condemned
Seoul's
"
illogical attitude
" which sees its ballistic missile fire as "
legitimate actions in support of peace. peace, and our actions as a threat to peace,
”she said, according to North Korean state media.
This is the second shot from Pyongyang in less than a week, according to the official North Korean news agency KCNA, which on Monday reported the launch of a "
long-range cruise missile
" over the weekend.
Wednesday's fire from both North and South came as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is in Seoul for talks with his South Korean counterpart.
Speaking before the announcement of the shooting, the minister said he hoped that all countries would contribute "
to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula
", according to the South Korean news agency Yonhap, inviting them "
all to work together to renew the dialogue
”.
"
Indirect message
"
For analysts, these shots are a signal intended for China, the main diplomatic ally and trade partner of the North, although relations between the two countries are sometimes strained. After coming to power at the end of 2011, Kim Jong Un waited more than six years before going to China, but then met on several occasions with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Beijing considers the North to be an integral part of its sphere of influence.
Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, believes that the shootings "
sound like an indirect message from North Korea and even a request to Beijing that the Korean peninsula be treated by China as a priority file
”.
“
At the same time, Pyongyang seems to be asserting and emphasizing that North Korea is taking the lead on the Korean Peninsula case
,” he added.
About 28,500 US troops are deployed in South Korea, and Washington on Wednesday reaffirmed its "
unwavering
"
commitment
to the defense of Seoul and Tokyo.
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Pyongyang is currently more isolated than ever since its borders were closed early last year to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. His talks with the United States have stalled since the failure of the 2019 Hanoi summit between Kim Jong Un and then US President Donald Trump. Since Kim Jong Un took over as head of the country, weapons programs have progressed, but Pyongyang has not conducted any nuclear tests or intercontinental ballistic missile fire since 2017.
