SEOUL — North Korea launched three short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast on Saturday, South Korea’s military said. The launches come as North Korea is holding a meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party to review the past year and discuss policy goals for 2023.
It is the latest provocation from North Korea, which has vowed to increase its nuclear and missile capabilities to counter Washington and Seoul.
South Korean defense officials said they were analyzing data from the test to learn more about the missile.
North Korea launched at least 95 ballistic missiles and other missiles in 2022 – more than in any previous year. Each country has defied United Nations Security Council resolutions that ban it from testing ballistic missiles, as well as nuclear devices. Below is a summary of launches North Korea has carried out since January 2022, according to data from North Korean state media and the South Korean military.
December 2022
New ICBM seems to be under development
Three short-range ballistic missiles launched on December 31 | Two short-range ballistic missiles fired on 23 December | Two mid-range on December 18
On December 16, North Korea tested what it called a new weapon, high booster rocket engine used solid fuel to develop its capabilities. Two days later, it launched what the Korean military called two intermediate-range ballistic missiles from the same site where the new rocket engine was tested. North Korea claims that it is testing technologies to place a military spy satellite into Earth’s orbit.
South Korean officials are analyzing the data to determine if the tests have anything to do with North Korea’s effort to build a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile. Such a missile would be easier to transport and conceal, and to launch faster – and thus harder to intercept – than North Korea’s existing ICBMs, all of which depend on liquid fuel.
Kim Yo-jong, the sister and spokesman of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, warned on December 20 that the country could launch a missile above the ICBM range for the first time in its history. full. Experts have questioned whether North Korea possesses the technology to do it in full orbit – go into space and launch back through Earth’s atmosphere to hit its intended target. Ms. Kim threatened to quell those suspicions.
NOVEMBER 2022
A Next Generation ICBM Tested
A Hwasong-17 ICBM fired on November 18 | Six ballistic missiles, including an ICBM, on 3 November | At least 29 short-range ballistic missiles and other missiles on four different days
November was the busiest month for North Korea’s missile tests in 2022, with at least 46 ballistic missiles and other rockets launched. half of them on November 2 alone. One of the missiles fired that day flew over the inter-Korean sea border and landed in the waters off the east coast of South Korea, triggering an airborne attack warning alert on an island east of South Korea. residential. In response, South Korea fired three air-to-surface missiles across the border into waters near North Korea.
The North limited its massive arms activities in November by test shot Hwasong-17, the country’s newest and most powerful ICBM, on Nov. 18. The rocket was launched at a deliberately steep angle, high into space. Flight data indicates that if launched at a normal angle, the rocket could theoretically reach anywhere in the continental United States.
North Korea’s Missile Tests
October 2022
A rocket flies over Japan
A medium-range ballistic missile launched on October 4 | Two “long-range strategic cruise missiles” October 12 | Nine short-range ballistic missiles on five different days
In the fall, South Korea, the United States and Japan stepped up joint military exercises to strengthen deterrence against North Korea’s growing nuclear and missile threat. At the same time, North Korea’s missile tests have become increasingly provocative. On October 4, North Korea opened fire medium-range ballistic missile flew over northern Japan, causing alarm and prompting people to seek shelter. On October 12, it launched what it called two “long-range strategic cruise missiles” that it said were deployed at “tactical nuclear weapons” operating units. It also claimed that it had practiced launching “nuclear warheads” at “the main military command post of the enemy” during tests conducted on October 6.
September 2022
First Test From an Underwater Silo
Five short-range ballistic missiles launched on three different days
When the US aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan sailed to the waters off the Korean Peninsula to participate in joint military exercises with South Korea and Japan in September and October, North Korea began testing ballistic missiles. short range. It said that a test simulated the launch of a nuclear missile from an underwater silo; another person rehearsed the debut of “nuclear warhead” at airports in Korea.
August 2022
North rejected the offer from South Korea
Two cruise missiles were fired on August 17
North Korea opened fire two cruise missiles off the west coast, two days after President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea made what he called a “bold” proposal to the North. Yoon said South Korea will start offering economic incentives immediately if North Korea starts serious negotiations for denuclearization. North Korea calls him “simple” and “childish”.
June 2022
US and Allies respond to provocations
Eight short-range missiles fired on June 5
Eight short-range ballistic missiles have been Fired from four different locations in North Korea. The rocket flew between 68 and 416 miles to the east. Over the next two days, South Korea and the United States conducted joint air and live missile exercises to counter North Korean escalation.
May 2022
Biden’s trip fuels a series of rockets
A submarine-launched ballistic missile fired on May 7 | Seven more ballistic missiles on three different days
North Korea show three ballistic missiles on May 25 while President Biden was flying home from visits to South Korea and Japan. The first missile is believed to be an ICBM fired with a limited range, covering a distance of only 224 miles. In response, the US and South Korea each fired a ballistic missile during a military exercise.
April 2022
North Korea tests new weapon
Two short-range ballistic missiles were launched on April 16
North Korea Fired two short-range ballistic missiles off the east coast in April. It later pointed out that the “new type of tactical guided weapon” was developed as a means to deliver “tactical nuclear weapons”.
March 2022
One of the most powerful ICBM launches
An ICBM launched on March 24 | A failed ICBM test on March 16 | A ballistic missile on March 5
North Korea said on March 5 that it had launched a rocket in an attempt to send a spy satellite into space. But Korean and American officials speak that North Korea is testing ICBM Hwasong-17. Not all tests of Hwasong-17 have been successful with one missile boom immediately after takeoff. On March 24, a rocket soaring 3,850 miles into space in one of the North’s most powerful ICBM launches.
February 2022
North Korea tests ICBM technology
A ballistic missile was fired on February 27
A projectile rose from Pyongyang’s Sunan district and flew 186 miles east in February. North Korea said the launch was part of preparations to put a spy satellite into Earth’s orbit. But South Korean and US officials say North Korea is testing the Hwasong-17, its latest generation ICBM.
January 2022
A new year begins with provocations
A medium-range ballistic missile fired on January 30 | Eight cruise or short-range ballistic missiles on four different dates | Two “supersonic” missiles in two days
North Korea started the new year with a series of short-range ballistic missile tests, including “supersonic” rockets and some launchers from the train car. On January 27, it show Hwasong-12 medium-range ballistic missile. The missile was tested for the first time in 2017. This time, North Korea said it randomly selected one for testing from multiple Hwasong-12s “manufactured and deployed by the North Korean military.”
