North Korea’s Missile Launches Tighten U.S.-South Korea-Japan Cooperation

A view of North Korea’s new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Hwasong-18, which uses a solid-fuel engine, being launched (file photo) ⓒKorean Central News Agency

Amid North Korea’s display of military prowess by launching short and long-range ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads for two consecutive days, South Korea, the U.S., and Japan have continued communication at various levels, expressing their joint response.

As North Korea strengthens its nuclear missile attack capability, the defense networks of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan also seem to be tightening.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on the 18th that at around 8:24 a.m. today, they detected a long-range ballistic missile launched by North Korea from the Pyongyang area towards the East Sea. The missile was launched at a lofted trajectory, flying approximately 1,000 km before landing in the East Sea.

Following North Korea’s launch of a military reconnaissance satellite last month, securing the ‘eyes that look around the world,’ this long-range ballistic missile launch appears to be a demonstration of a ‘powerful punch hitting a long distance.’

In particular, when North Korea launches a long-range ballistic missile at a normal angle, it is estimated to have a range of up to 15,000 km, proving a substantial capability to strike the U.S. mainland.

While additional verification on reentry technology is needed, considering the distance from Pyongyang to the White House (approximately 6,835 miles), the U.S. cannot help but be concerned, according to assessments.

Moreover, it is observed that this missile, which uses a solid-fuel engine, can be launched stealthily and quickly, potentially damaging the U.S.’s detection and interception capabilities.

Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, and his daughter are passing by the Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) carrying North Korea’s new ICBM, the Hwasong-18, which uses a solid-fuel engine (file photo). ⓒKorean Central News Agency

Previous Day’s Short-Range Missile Provocation
Targets U.S. Strategic Assets and South Korean Ports

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea also launched a short-range ballistic missile from the Pyongyang area towards the East Sea around 10:38 p.m. the day before. The missile flew approximately 570 km before landing in the East Sea.

Considering the distance from Pyongyang to Busan (about 530 km), the launch is interpreted as a response targeting the U.S. strategic asset, the USS Missouri (SSN-780), which arrived at the Busan Naval Base earlier that day. The USS Missouri is a Virginia-class nuclear submarine capable of carrying Tomahawk missiles and MK48 torpedoes.

As North Korea has previously mentioned ‘major South Korean airports and ports’ as potential targets for nuclear attacks against U.S. strategic assets, this launch is seen as an attempt to demonstrate its capabilities in that regard.

A scene of North Korea’s short-range missile launch (file photo) ⓒKorean Central News Agency{vi88}

President Yoon Suk Yeol Actively Pushes for Joint Response by South Korea, U.S., and Japan
South Korea, U.S., and Japan Share Missile Information Closely

As North Korea has successively demonstrated its strike capabilities against South Korea and the U.S., the government has put its weight behind cooperation between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan.

President Yun Seok-yeol instructed the Standing Committee of the National Security Council (NSC), which was held immediately after North Korea’s long-range ballistic missile provocation, to “staunchly maintain the South Korea-U.S. joint defense posture and actively push for a joint response by South Korea, the U.S., and Japan by utilizing the real-time information sharing system on North Korean missiles.”

It was understood that the military authorities of the three countries closely shared information related to North Korea’s provocations for two consecutive days.

The military authorities announced about the short-range missile launched the previous day, “Information related to North Korean ballistic missiles has been closely shared between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan.” Regarding the long-range missile launched that day, they said, “North Korean ballistic missile warning information was closely shared among the three countries.”

In the case of the short-range missile, there is no possibility of it reaching the United States or Japan, so it doesn’t fall under the category of ‘alarm information sharing.’ However, it is interpreted that there has been close coordination in sharing relevant information.

The real-time sharing of missile warning information between South Korea, the United States, and Japan, which has been announced several times by the three countries, has not been implemented yet. According to Defense Ministry spokesperson Jeon Ha-gyu, the real-time sharing of missile warning information among South Korea, the United States, and Japan is in the final verification stage. He mentioned that the three countries are closely discussing activating it within a few days.

South Korea, the U.S., and Japan are conducting missile defense training, assuming North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), in the waters near Dokdo (file photo) ⓒNavy{vi139}

Tripartite Security Chiefs’ Telephone Consultation
Joint Response in Military Field, etc.
Forecast of Tripartite Cooperation in Various Areas

Separately from the military authorities, the National Security Directors of South Korea, the United States, and Japan hinted at the possibility of a multifaceted response through telephone consultations.

According to the presidential office, National Security Director Cho Tae-yong had consecutive phone discussions with Jake Sullivan, U.S. National Security Advisor, and Akihiko Taketo, Director-General of the National Security Secretariat of Japan, in the afternoon. The explanation provided stated that they discussed “joint response plans regarding North Korea’s long-range ballistic missile launch.”

The National Security Directors of South Korea, the United States, and Japan expressed a shared commitment to actively promote trilateral cooperation in response to North Korean provocations through collaboration on △cooperation at the United Nations Security Council △joint and multilateral sanctions against North Korea △military cooperation △counteraction against North Korea’s malicious cyber activities △prevention of illegal foreign currency earnings, among other measures.