Latest news with #US-SouthKorean
Libyan Express
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Libyan Express
North Korea fires advanced missiles into Sea of Japan
North Korea unveiled what analysts believe to be the world's largest liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile. Photo via Korean Central TV North Korea launched several ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan on Thursday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed through Yonhap news agency . The projectiles were fired from Wonsan, a coastal city on North Korea's southeastern shore, and travelled approximately 190 miles eastward before landing in international waters. 'This clear provocation seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula,' South Korea's military leadership declared in their official statement condemning the launches. Military intelligence suggests these projectiles are part of Pyongyang's new generation of sophisticated short-range ballistic missile systems, representing a significant technological leap from their Soviet-era arsenal. Defence analysts identify these as likely belonging to North Korea's KN-series missiles, which feature quasi-ballistic flight patterns specifically engineered to evade interception by contemporary missile defence systems. These newer weapons systems employ advanced manoeuvrability tactics, flying at unusually low altitudes before making abrupt trajectory changes. Such innovations considerably reduce the effectiveness of regional defensive countermeasures whilst simultaneously improving strike precision. Thursday's demonstration constitutes North Korea's fifth missile test this year, following a similar launch on 22 April. The timing appears deliberate, coming days before President Trump's 20 January inauguration and shortly after the conclusion of joint US-South Korean 'Freedom Shield' military exercises, which North Korea consistently characterises as invasion rehearsals. The ongoing missile development programme reflects North Korea's broader strategic shift toward asymmetric warfare capabilities to compensate for its ageing conventional forces. Experts note this approach allows Pyongyang to maintain military relevance whilst potentially strengthening its negotiating position in any future diplomatic engagements. Japanese and American defence officials continue monitoring the situation intently, with particular concern regarding the dual-capable nature of these missile systems, which could potentially deliver either conventional or nuclear warheads. This technological advancement represents a growing security challenge for the entire region as missile defence systems face increasingly sophisticated threats designed specifically to overcome their protective capabilities.
Jordan Times
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
N. Korea warns of 'accidental' war risk from US-South Korea drills
South Korean K1A2 tanks move during a joint live-fire drill between South Korea and the United States at the Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon on March 6, 2025 (AFP photo) SEOUL — North Korea on Monday condemned joint US-South Korean military drills as a "provocative act", warning of the danger of sparking war with "an accidental single shot," days after Seoul's air force mistakenly bombed a village on its own territory. "This is a dangerous provocative act of leading the acute situation on the Korean peninsula, which may spark off a physical conflict between the two sides by means of an accidental single shot," said Pyongyang's foreign ministry, as quoted by state media. The joint US-South Korea "Freedom Shield 2025" exercise was set to kick off on Monday, and will involve "live, virtual, and field-based training", according to a US statement. The exercise will run until March 21, the statement said. Military cooperation between Seoul and Washington regularly invites condemnation from Pyongyang, where the government sees such moves as preparation for an invasion, and often carries out missile tests in response. The latest exercise comes after two South Korean Air Force fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs on a village during a joint training exercise with US forces on March 6. Fifteen people, including civilians and military personnel, were wounded in that incident, South Korea's National Fire Agency said. Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul have been at one of their lowest points in years, with the North launching a flurry of ballistic missiles last year in violation of UN sanctions. The two Koreas remain technically at war since their 1950-1953 conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. The United States stations tens of thousands of soldiers in the South, in part to protect Seoul against Pyongyang. The large-scale Freedom Shield exercises are one of the allies' biggest annual joint exercises. In its statement on Monday, North Korea's foreign ministry dubbed the exercises "an aggressive and confrontational war rehearsal". Last week, Pyongyang slammed the United States for "political and military provocations" over the visit of a US Navy aircraft carrier to the South Korean port of Busan.
Khaleej Times
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
N. Korea warns of 'accidental' war risk from US-South Korea drills
North Korea on Monday condemned joint US-South Korean military drills as a "provocative act", warning of the danger of sparking war with "an accidental single shot," days after Seoul's air force mistakenly bombed a village on its own territory. "This is a dangerous provocative act of leading the acute situation on the Korean peninsula, which may spark off a physical conflict between the two sides by means of an accidental single shot," said Pyongyang's foreign ministry, as quoted by state media. The joint US-South Korea "Freedom Shield 2025" exercise was set to kick off on Monday, and will involve "live, virtual, and field-based training", according to a US statement. The exercise will run until March 21, the statement said. Military cooperation between Seoul and Washington regularly invites condemnation from Pyongyang, where the government sees such moves as preparation for an invasion, and often carries out missile tests in response. The latest exercise comes after two South Korean Air Force fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs on a village during a joint training exercise with US forces on March 6. Fifteen people, including civilians and military personnel, were wounded in that incident, South Korea's National Fire Agency said. Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul have been at one of their lowest points in years, with the North launching a flurry of ballistic missiles last year in violation of UN sanctions. The two Koreas remain technically at war since their 1950-1953 conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. The United States stations tens of thousands of soldiers in the South, in part to protect Seoul against Pyongyang. The large-scale Freedom Shield exercises are one of the allies' biggest annual joint exercises. In its statement on Monday, North Korea's foreign ministry dubbed the exercises "an aggressive and confrontational war rehearsal". Last week, Pyongyang slammed the United States for "political and military provocations" over the visit of a US Navy aircraft carrier to the South Korean port of Busan. © Agence France-Presse
South China Morning Post
10-03-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
After South Korea's bombing blunder, Pyongyang warns of ‘accidental' war
North Korea on Monday condemned joint US-South Korean military drills as a 'provocative act', warning of the danger of sparking war with 'an accidental single shot', days after Seoul's air force mistakenly bombed a village on its own territory. Advertisement 'This is a dangerous provocative act of leading the acute situation on the Korean peninsula, which may spark off a physical conflict between the two sides by means of an accidental single shot,' said Pyongyang's foreign ministry, as quoted by state media. The joint US-South Korea 'Freedom Shield 2025' exercise was set to kick off on Monday, and will involve 'live, virtual, and field-based training', according to a US statement. The exercise will run until March 21, the statement said. Military cooperation between Seoul and Washington regularly invites condemnation from Pyongyang, where the government sees such moves as preparation for an invasion, and often carries out missile tests in response. 02:09 South Korean fighter jet accidentally drops bombs on village during military drill South Korean fighter jet accidentally drops bombs on village during military drill The latest exercise comes after two South Korean Air Force fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs on a village during a joint training exercise with US forces on Thursday
Sky News
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Kim Jong Un's sister threatens response to US aircraft carrier's deployment in South Korea
The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has threatened the Trump administration with retaliatory action for stepping up "provocations" with the deployment of a US aircraft carrier to South Korea. The warning from Kim Yo Jong, a powerful official in her brother's regime, implies North Korea will likely ramp up weapons testing activities and maintain its confrontational posture against the US. In a statement carried by state media, she accused the US of showing "its most hostile and confrontational will" to North Korea. It follows the deployments of the USS Carl Vinson and other powerful US military assets this week, as well as joint US-South Korean military drills this year. She said her country would deliver a "threatening" response to the arrival of the US aircraft carrier in the region which she condemned as the "confrontation hysteria of the US and its stooges". "The DPRK is also planning to carefully examine the option for increasing the actions threatening the security of the enemy at the strategic level to cope with the fact that the deployment of US strategic assets in the Korean Peninsula has become a vicious habit and adversely affects the security of the DPRK," she said, using the acronym of North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Observers and experts said the statement suggests North Korea may test launch powerful missiles designed to strike the US mainland or American military bases in the region. The USS Carl Vinson and its strike group arrived at the South Korean port of Busan on Sunday, the latest temporary deployment of a US strategic asset. The move aimed to illustrate the strength of the US-South Korean military alliance in the face of North Korean threats. The US carrier's arrival came four days after North Korea conducted cruise missile tests - its fourth missile launch event this year. It comes despite US President Donald Trump saying he would contact Kim Jong Un to revive diplomacy. North Korea has not responded to Mr Trump's comments. Mr Kim and Mr Trump met three times between 2018 and 2019 during the US president's first term in office to discuss the future of North Korea's nuclear programme. Their high-stakes diplomacy eventually collapsed due to wrangling over US-led economic sanctions on North Korea.
