According to Seoul's military, North Korea launched a ballistic missile on Monday when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in South Korea for a summit on democracy and to meet with senior officials. Blinken will have a meeting with his Korean counterpart off-stage at the third Summit for Democracy, which the South is hosting this week as part of US President Joe Biden's effort. The conclusion of a significant yearly joint military training exercise between Washington and Seoul, two important security partners, this week sparked tit-for-tat drills and enraged responses from nuclear-armed Pyongyang.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, "North Korea fired an unspecified ballistic missile toward the East Sea," referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan. The Japan Coast Guard reported that the items looked to have already fallen, and Japan also acknowledged the launch. The yearly Freedom Shield, which included twice as many troops this year, ended on Thursday, only a few days ago.
Strengthening South Korean and American deterrence against the North's nuclear and missile threats was the goal of the 11-day joint drills. This month, Pyongyang issued a warning to Seoul and Washington over the Freedom Shield drills, threatening to pay a "dear price." It also revealed that Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, had led an artillery unit that it claimed was capable of hitting the capital of South Korea.
The nuclear-armed North has long denounced joint military drills between the US and South Korea, claiming they are invasion practices. It has conducted weapons tests in the past in reaction to such cooperative exercises. The North has tested ballistic missiles twice this year; the first was on January 14 and was equipped with a maneuverable hypersonic warhead. This test took place on Monday. Ahead of the democracy summit, which is scheduled for March 18–20 and will include representatives from the government, non-governmental organizations, and civil society, Blinken touched down on Sunday afternoon.
One of Washington's most important regional allies is Seoul, where US forces number roughly 27,000 and are stationed to assist defend the country from the nuclear-armed North. To better fend off Pyongyang's threats, Yoon Suk Yeol, the conservative president of Seoul, has strengthened his connections with Washington and worked to put the past behind him with the former colonial power, Japan. This year, Pyongyang has warned of war for "even 0.001 mm" of territorial incursion, branded South Korea its "principal enemy," and sacked organizations tasked with outreach and reunification.
According to the ministry, Blinken will meet with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae Yul to discuss ways to strengthen the alliance while Washington and Seoul look into enhancing their so-called "extended deterrence" against North Korea. The invitation list for the democracy summit has drawn criticism since it leaves out nations that identify as democratic, such as Turkey and Thailand. According to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, Blinken would go to the Philippines after Seoul to reiterate "our unwavering commitment to the Philippine ally." In an attempt to balance China, the US is stepping up efforts to strengthen relations with long-standing regional allies like Manila.
