North Korea fires ballistic missiles as US nuclear missile submarine visits ROK



News North Korea fires ballistic missiles as US nuclear missile submarine visits ROK Short-range missile launch likely demonstration of ability to accurately strike USS Kentucky at Busan base, expert says Arius Derr \| Colin Zwirko July 19, 2023 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON A file photo of a North Korean ballistic missile test from 2019 \| Image: North Korean state media North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) toward the East Sea (Sea of Japan) in a rare early morning launch on Wednesday, hours after South Korea announced a U.S. nuclear missile submarine had arrived in the port city of Busan. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the North launched the two SRBMs from the Sunan area north of the capital. North Korea frequently launches missiles from the Pyongyang International Airport in Sunan. The Japanese defense ministry stated the first missile was launched at around 3:29 a.m. KST and flew some 340 miles (550 km) at a maximum © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by Trending

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North Korea fires ballistic missiles as US nuclear missile submarine visits ROK

Short-range missile launch likely demonstration of ability to accurately strike USS Kentucky at Busan base, expert says

Arius Derr | Colin Zwirko July 19, 2023

North Korea fires ballistic missiles as US nuclear missile submarine visits ROK

A file photo of a North Korean ballistic missile test from 2019 | Image: North Korean state media

North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) toward the East Sea (Sea of Japan) in a rare early morning launch on Wednesday, hours after South Korea announced a U.S. nuclear missile submarine had arrived in the port city of Busan.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the North launched the two SRBMs from the Sunan area north of the capital. North Korea frequently launches missiles from the Pyongyang International Airport in Sunan.

The Japanese defense ministry stated the first missile was launched at around 3:29 a.m. KST and flew some 340 miles (550 km) at a maximum

About the Authors

Arius Derr

Arius Derr is Director of Communications at the Korea Economic Institute. He formerly worked as NK News Managing Editor from 2021 to 2022, Deputy Managing Editor from 2022 to 2023 and Editor from 2023 to 2025. Prior to that, he was an editor at East Asia Forum and KBS, South Korea’s public broadcaster. His graduate research focuses on U.S. nuclear policy and U.S.-DPRK relations. Follow him on Twitter @AriusDerr.

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Colin Zwirko

Colin Zwirko is a Senior Analytic Correspondent for NK News based in Seoul. He joined the company in 2018 after receiving a master's degree in international security and foreign policy from South Korea's Yonsei University. Follow him on Bluesky / Twitter.

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