U.S. And South Korean Missiles LAUNCHED – Is This A Bad Sign?
(ConservativeHub.com) – On June 6, the United States and South Korea launched missiles in retaliation against North Korea. The other nation had set off missiles the previous day. The allied act showed a united front against the aggressive country in hopes of deterring authoritarian leader Kim Jong-un from further action.
The Launches
On June 5, North Korea fired eight short-range missiles in a 35-minute display over the sea off the coast of South Korea. The launches came from four coastal and inland locations. The launches marked the 18th round of testing in 2022.
The next day, the US and South Korea fired eight Army Tactical Missile System devices into the waters off of South Korea. The display lasted for 10 minutes. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff announced the mission to prove how swiftly the allied nations could respond to a North Korean attack.
In a Memorial Day speech on June 6, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said his country is preparing to combat the threat posed by North Korea’s efforts to amass nuclear weapons. He also vowed to strengthen the alliance with the US, marking a change from his predecessor, who sought more diplomacy with North Korea.
Officials from North Korea didn’t issue a response to Monday’s actions by the US and South Korea, but the nation has been known to criticize such exercises in the past.
Continued Tensions
Officials state North Korea is also readying to hold a nuclear test, which would mark the first since 2017. Kim Jong-un seeks to show his country’s nuclear power to obtain an edge in negotiations. He wants the world to see his country as a leader, and he’s demonstrating military strength to push other nations to acquiesce to his demands.
US officials say they’ll seek international sanctions if Kim pursues nuclear testing, but deep divisions could stymie action from the UN Security Council. Russia and China previously opposed further sanctions on North Korea. China urged diplomacy and discussion to avoid worsening the tense situation, but Kim’s administration has refused offers for talks with the US.
Tensions on the Korean peninsula and the adjoining Sea of Japan continue to concern everyone. But with a leader in North Korea who refuses to cooperate and considers every action an affront against him, ensuring stability in the area is challenging at best.
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