North Korea Fires Cruise Missiles, Escalating Tensions on Korean Peninsula

North Korea has once again escalated tensions on the Korean Peninsula by firing several cruise missiles into the Yellow Sea. The South Korean military confirmed the launches, which took place at 7 a.m. local time. The specifics of the missiles and their targets have not been disclosed yet.

Both South Korea and the United States are closely monitoring the situation and are working together to analyze the missiles. Cruise missiles, unlike ballistic missiles, are not explicitly prohibited by the U.N. Security Council. They are powered by jet engines and fly at lower altitudes. However, any missile launch by North Korea raises concerns about regional stability.

This latest provocation comes after a series of aggressive actions by North Korea in recent weeks. In January, the regime fired artillery shells towards its southern maritime border and launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan. The international community has condemned these actions as violations of U.N. resolutions.

In a speech during the Supreme People’s Assembly, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un labeled South Korea as the country’s “primary foe.” He proposed destroying symbols of reunification, including the Monument to the Three Charters for National Reunification in Pyongyang. Satellite images indicate that the monument has been demolished, further signaling the deteriorating relations between the two Koreas.

These developments mark a significant shift in North Korea’s stance towards South Korea. Previously, the two countries had agreed upon peace-building measures and had even signed a military deconfliction agreement. However, North Korea withdrew from the agreement in November, citing concerns over joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea.

The firing of cruise missiles by North Korea is yet another worrying sign of the escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The international community, particularly the United States and its allies, will closely monitor the situation and assess the appropriate response. It remains to be seen how these latest actions by North Korea will impact the already fragile regional stability.