Global Peace Under Threat As North Korea Launches Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile

Afimag.com –

The leadership of North Korea has launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile on January 14, 2024, an action that put global Peace under threat.

According to Seoul’s military, the missile, detected by South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, was successfully fired from the Pyongyang area towards the East Sea at around 14:55 (0555 GMT), travelling approximately 1,000 kilometres (621 miles), and authorities in Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo are currently analysing its specifications.

“We strongly condemn the latest missile launch by North Korea as it is a clear provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean peninsula,” stated Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The incident comes after North Korea’s recent live-fire exercises near its maritime border with South Korea. The exercises led to counter-exercises and evacuation orders for some South Korean border islands. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, earlier in the week, referred to Seoul as his “principal enemy” and stressed the country’s hostile stance toward South Korea.

According to Analysts, the significance of the timing of this missile launch, occurring after the heightened warlike rhetoric from North Korea and just before the scheduled visit of Pyongyang’s foreign minister to Russia.

Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University, expressed concern about Pyongyang’s show of force, stating, “Pyongyang’s show of force should be of concern beyond Seoul, as its military cooperation with Moscow adds to the violence in Ukraine, and because it may be more willing to challenge the US and its allies while global attention is fixed on the Middle East.”

Firing of the Missile by North Korea is a tremendous threat to peaceful co-existence in the region as the interaction between the two Koreas at their lowest point in decades.

Recall that North Korea Republic, has recently, said it won’t hesitate to go into war with South Korea, describing the country as its greatest enemy.

The international community, including the United Nations Security Council, has advised North Korea to put an end to its ballistic missile programs.