(TheConservativeTimes.org) – North Korea fired off multiple ballistic missiles which are suspected of having been a jab at the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken as he was visiting South Korea.
Blinken is in South Korea attending the Summit for Democracy, and he met with President Yoon Suk-yeol. There are also talks regarding how they will counter threats from the North. Washington and Seoul have just finished military training that they partake in together, but this sparked retaliation from Pyongyang in North Korea as they see any rehearsals or training as an active threat.
Reports have said that North Korea sent three short-range ballistic missiles that landed in the Sea of Japan. Japan later commented saying that they did see the missiles but they did no damage. According to a spokesman, following the meeting with Yoon, Blinken “condemned the launch of ballistic missiles by the DPRK and reaffirmed the United States’ ironclad commitment to the ROK’s security.”
Pyongyang has warned that Seoul and Washington could pay a “dear price” for their military training drills. They also said that Kim Jong-un had an artillery unit that was capable of striking South Korea’s capital.
“It’s a highly calculated move timing-wise by Pyongyang to fire multiple missiles to show they are capable of doing such an act even when the top US diplomat is in town,” said a professor of military studies.
It’s been said that North Korea will typically stage missile launches after Seoul-Washington drills to get back at them, but essentially Blinken being in the area is fueling their desire to continue with the launches.
The United States and South Korea are allies and have been working together in preparation for any conflict with North Korea. The U.S. currently has over twenty thousand American soldiers in South Korea to help protect against the possible threat. As tensions rise between the South and the North, the United States is an important ally on South Korea’s side.
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