North Korea fires missile towards Yellow Sea US worried about China’s strong position in supply chains

According to South Korea, the self-proclaimed nuclear power North Korea has fired at least one military missile towards the Yellow Sea between China and the Korean peninsula.

The missile was shot down on Thursday evening (local time) in the area around the west coast port city of Nampo, South Korea’s general staff in Seoul said. It is a short-range ballistic missile. How far she flew was initially unknown. The military is also investigating indications that North Korea may have fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles.

Under UN decrees, North Korea is prohibited from testing ballistic missiles of any range. Depending on the design, such missiles can also be equipped with a nuclear warhead. The largely isolated country is subject to international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program.

Neighboring South Korea viewed the new weapons test as another show of strength. Pyongyang recently warned the United States and its ally South Korea against undertaking new joint military maneuvers and threatening countermeasures. Both countries have denied Pyongyang’s accusation that their military exercises were preparations for an attack.

On Monday, both countries held a new air force exercise, to which the US sent a long-range bomber B-52 that can serve as a nuclear weapon carrier. Both parties want to start an eleven-day commando training next Monday, which will be accompanied by military exercises in the field.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula have risen in the past year. North Korea has expanded the scope of its missile tests. The US and South Korea resume their maneuvers. (saw/sda/dpa)