South Korea's military detected two short-range ballistic missiles that flew a distance of around 500 miles at a maximum altitude of 37 miles.
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Follow North Korea’s nuclear ambitions
The nuclear threat from North Korea appears to be growing as the reclusive regime continues to stockpile weapons. It has not conducted nuclear or long-range missile tests since 2017, but North Korea launched a pair of short-range ballistic missiles in March and showed off a new ICBM at a military parade in October. It also has a new air defense system. Diplomatic efforts at denuclearization from the U.S. and South Korea have stalled over the past two years. Follow the developments.
The missiles flew for over two hours in oval and figure-8 patterns while traveling 932 miles, Korean Central News Agency reported. The distance puts Japan within reach of conventional or nuclear warheads.
The country appears to have begun operating a nuclear reactor capable of producing weapons-grade plutonium after a pause of more than 2 1/2 years.
At the same time, less than half of South Koreans said they were worried by the nuclear threat posed by the North, with 42.5% saying they were "somewhat" or "very" concerned.
"We're very familiar with North Korea's capabilities, and I'm very confident in our ability to deter that," Adm. Charles Richard, commander of Stratcom, said.
The country's nuclear arsenal is expected to grow over the next several years, reaching as many as 242 weapons.
A report from a United Nations panel of experts found that North Korea has continued to fund its weapons program through illicit means such as smuggling and cyberattacks.
It poses a growing threat to countries in the region such as South Korea and Japan, according to a report by the U.S. government's Congressional Research Service.
The leader of the People Power Party, Kim Chong-in, said the country needs to consider arming itself with nuclear weapons to counter the threat from North Korea.
At a military parade in Pyongyang, North Korea unveiled a new submarine-launched ballistic missile it called the "world's most powerful weapon."
Commercial satellite imagery shows a coal-fired steam plant is in operation at North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear facility.
The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden should take the initiative in restarting diplomacy with North Korea as soon as possible, analysts said.
The U.S. policy of "maximum pressure" against North Korea was working in 2018 until Chinese leader Xi Jinping began to meet with Kim Jong Un and influenced his most important decisions, an analyst said.
