Tension between the two Koreas: Kim Jong-un tested two ballistic missiles in the Sea of ​​Japan, the South fired a projectile from a submarine

The two Koreas conducted ballistic missile tests hours apart on Wednesday, in a show of military force and that diplomatic efforts to dismantle North Korea’s nuclear program are all but crippled.

Seoul made its first test with a missile launched from a submarine, as announced in the afternoon by the South Korean presidential office. The projectile was launched from a 3000 ton submarine and traveled a programmed distance before reaching its target.

It is expected that weapon helps South Korea deter potential external threats, improve their self-defense capabilities and promote peace on the Korean Peninsula, the statement said.

The test has been done hours after the South Korean military detected the launch of two North Korean short-range ballistic missiles. Pyongyang said on Monday it had tested a new missile in its first weapons test in six months.

North Korean launches have shown that go ahead with his weapon plans while trying to pressure the United States to resume nuclear talks.

It’s unusual for South Korea to reveal high-level weapons tests, which some experts say could unnecessarily provoke North Korea. Analysts noted that the president’s government, Jae-in Moon, who has actively sought reconciliation with Pyongyang, could respond to criticism that he is too gentle with his neighbor.

The North Korean missiles, launched Wednesday from central North Korea, they traveled 800 kilometers (497 miles) with a peak of 60 kilometers (37 miles) before falling into the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said that while the launches highlighted the destabilizing impact of North Korea’s illicit weapons program, they posed no threat to “American personnel or territory, or to our allies.”

“The launches threaten the peace and security of Japan and the region and are absolutely scandalous”said the Prime Minister of Japan, Yoshihide Suga. “The government of Japan is determined to step up our vigilance and oversight to be prepared for any eventuality.”

North Korea announced on Monday that it had carried out two tests of a new cruise missile over the weekend. North Korean state media described the missile as a “Strategic weapon of great relevance”, which suggests that it was developed with the intention to arm it with nuclear warheads.

According to North Korean reports, the missile traveled about 1,500 kilometers (930 miles), a distance capable of reaching all of Japan and American facilities in the region.

The launch coincided with a visit to Seoul by Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang yi, to meet Moon and other dignitaries and discuss blocked nuclear diplomatic contacts with Pyongyang.

U.S.-North Korea talks stalled in 2019, when the Americans rejected North Korea’s demand for significant sanctions relief in exchange for dismantling an aging nuclear facility. For now, the government of Kim rejected Joe Biden government’s calls for dialogue, and demands that Washington abandon its “hostile” policy sooner.

The resumption of weapons testing in North Korea is probably an attempt to put pressure on the Biden government, after Kim failed to secure economic concessions during Donald Trump’s presidency.

North Korea launched two long-range ballistic missiles into the sea in March, after a one-year hiatus in ballistic testing. The launch continued a tradition of testing new U.S. governments with weapons demonstrations to gauge Washington’s response and seek concessions.

Kim Jong-un still maintains self-imposed moratorium on long-range nuclear and missile testingan indication that he may not want to completely disrupt nuclear contacts with the United States.

(With AP information)

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