According to the South Korean military, North Korea has once again fired a ballistic missile, which landed in the Sea of Japan. The self-proclaimed nuclear power’s latest provocation has raised concerns among neighboring countries and the international community.
The South Korean general staff in Seoul announced the missile launch on Wednesday, providing limited details about the incident. UN resolutions strictly prohibit North Korea from conducting such missile tests, as they can be equipped with nuclear warheads, posing a significant threat to regional stability.
Just days before the launch, North Korea issued a warning to the United States, urging them not to deploy a nuclear-powered submarine armed with ballistic missiles to South Korea. In response, North Korea indirectly threatened to shoot down US reconnaissance aircraft. The Defense Ministry in Pyongyang claimed that the US deployment could lead to the worst crisis of nuclear conflict.
In April, the United States and its ally South Korea agreed to enhance their military cooperation due to rising tensions with North Korea. The recent missile launch has further escalated the situation, prompting a joint condemnation from the leaders of South Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
During a meeting on the sidelines of a NATO summit, President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, and Prime Minister Chris Hipkins of New Zealand issued a joint statement denouncing North Korea’s actions. They emphasized that North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs pose a significant challenge to regional peace and stability, as well as the international community’s efforts toward complete denuclearization of North Korea.
The statement called for North Korea to cease its unlawful provocations and fully comply with all relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The four countries expressed their commitment to working with the UN and the international community to ensure the effective implementation of sanctions against North Korea.
Despite North Korea’s continued development of its nuclear and missile capabilities, the joint statement emphasized that it would only strengthen the international community’s determination to achieve complete denuclearization. The leaders of South Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand urged North Korea to halt its provocations and return to dialogue.
This meeting marked the second time the leaders of these four countries convened on the sidelines of a NATO summit, highlighting the importance they place on regional security in the Indo-Pacific region. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol expressed the need for the Asia-Pacific partners to collaborate with NATO and establish a robust collective security posture to enhance regional stability.
The international community closely watches the situation as tensions remain high in the Korean Peninsula, and efforts continue to find a diplomatic solution to address North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and provocative actions.
(With inputs from the agency)
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