The situation between the rival Korean countries has beenescalating for most of 2022and this week we are seeing a dramatic rise in tensions with the exchange of missile fire between the two countries into their buffer zone.
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Ramped up tensions
On October 24, North Korea and South Korea exchanged life-fire warning shots. During the past week Kim Jong-un test-launched two ballistic missiles into the open sea as a sign of force against the US and its southern neighbour, thus ramping up tensions in the region.
The actions on the side ofNorth Koreacame within a day after the USissued a stern warning against a launch of a nuclear bomb, which would not go unpunished, threatening that Kim Jong-un's regime would not survive the aftermath.
Despite the actions of its northern foe, South Korea meanwhile has been conducting military exercises with the US, in what was largely perceived by North Korea as a simulation of an invasion.
According to CBS NEWS, residents in South Korean islands on Wednesday were alarmed by air-raid sirens and were instructed to evacuate to underground shelters.
New record for missile launches within a day
On Wednesday, North Korea set a new record for the most missiles launched within a day.
According to BBC, Kim Jong-un’s government unleashed at least 23 rockets and a barrage of more than 100 artillery shots that have been fired into the empty demilitarised zone between the two countries. South Korea responded in kind by launching threeair-to-ground missiles of its own.
The US policy towards the situation between the rival Koreas has not shifted, it continues to consider South Korea as a strong ally and it vows to protect it from any attack from its northern foe.
At the same time, the US does not have any hostile intent toward North Korea despite vowing to curb their nuclear ambitions, CBS NEWS reports.
In a joint declaration Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, and his South Korean counterpart, Park Jin, condemned North Korea’s ‘escalatory launch of ballistic missiles’.
Sources used:
-BBC: ‘South hits back as North Korea fires most missiles in a day’
-CBSNews: ‘North and South Korea exchange missile launches as tensions ratchet up even further’
