Report from South Korea: North Korea continues missile tests

Created: 2022-01-27Updated: 2022-01-27 03:22

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been testing missiles since the beginning of the year.

© -/KCNA/dpa

North Korea has drawn fresh criticism for its missile tests this year.

According to South Korea, two rockets are now flying towards the open sea.

Seoul - Despite new sanctions, the self-declared nuclear power North Korea continues its missile tests.

North Korea fired two suspected short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea today in Hamhung on the east coast, the military in neighboring South Korea said.

They flew about 190 kilometers and crashed into the East Sea (Sea of ​​Japan).

It was North Korea's sixth missile test since the beginning of the year.

UN resolutions prohibit the largely politically isolated country from testing ballistic missiles.

These are usually surface-to-surface missiles that, depending on the design, can also carry a nuclear warhead.

According to South Korea, North Korea tested two cruise missiles on Tuesday.

However, the tests of such guided missiles, which, unlike ballistic missiles, have their own permanent propulsion, are not subject to the sanctions against North Korea.

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North Korea has drawn fresh criticism from the US and its allies South Korea and Japan for its missile tests this year.

According to the company, hypersonic missiles were also used in the tests.

With such weapons, a so-called hypersonic glider can be launched from a ballistic missile.

Hypersonic weapons are difficult to intercept because of their high speed and maneuverability.

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According to experts, North Korea also wants to demonstrate military strength in addition to further developing its missile technology.

Because of its nuclear weapons program, the country is subject, among other things, to severe sanctions by the UN Security Council.

After new US sanctions, Pyongyang recently indicated that it would be able to test nuclear bombs and ICBMs again.

At the end of 2019, ruler Kim Jong Un declared that North Korea was no longer bound by its self-imposed test moratorium.

The background was the lack of progress in the US negotiations with North Korea over its nuclear program.

This month, the US Treasury Department decided, among other things, to take punitive measures against five North Koreans who it accused of procuring goods for their country's mass destruction and missile programs.

dpa