Categories: World

By firing a self-made SLBM, is South Korea telling US that it is ready to fight its own battles?

<p>
A major weapons race is in the offing in North-East Asia with both the Koreas launching missiles within hours of each other this Wednesday.</p>
<p>
North Korea fired two ballistic missiles in contravention of UN resolutions. The Japanese Defence Ministry confirmed that the North Korean missiles landed in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) somewhere between Japan and Korea.</p>
<p>
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga condemned the North Korean launch as "outrageous" and its ally–the US, said it posed a threat to the region and to the world.</p>
<p>
The Wednesday missile launches were the North's attempt at a new launch system–the railway-borne missile system. Photographs showed the missile being fired from a stationary train parked in a mountainous area.</p>
<p>
This was Pyongyang's second missile launch in three days. It had earlier test fired a long-range missile on Monday, which had prompted an urgent meeting between the US, Japan and South Korea.</p>
<p>
What turned out to be surprising was that the South Koreans responded by launching their own missile within hours.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/world-news/china-breathes-fire-as-the-world-converges-on-the-south-china-sea-106671.html"><strong>China breathes fire as the world converges on the South China Sea</strong></a></p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/world-news/us-japan-and-south-korea-warn-china-for-ratcheting-tensions-in-taiwan-103680.html"><strong>US, Japan and South Korea warn China for ratcheting tensions in Taiwan</strong></a></p>
<p>
A statement by President Moon Jae-in's office said that the indigenous ballistic missile was launched on Wednesday afternoon. This was the country's first submarine fired missile that was targeted to hit a designated object.</p>
<p>
The submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) by South Korea has made it the seventh country to own such technology.</p>
<p>
The importance of this event can be gauged from the statement issued by South Korea's presidential office, which said: "The possession of an SLBM has a significant meaning for the purpose of securing deterrence capabilities responding to omni-directional threats and will play a big role in the establishment of national self-defense and peace on the Korean Peninsula in the future".</p>
<p>
The swift South Korean response is as much a hint to the US, besides its norther neighbour North Korea, that it is getting battle ready to fight its own conflicts.</p>
<p>
The two Koreas are locked in an intense rivalry as both are developing and also procuring weapons from their allies. <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/world-news/south-korea-seeks-aircraft-carrier-amid-indo-pacific-turmoil-106171.html"><em>India Narrative </em>had earlier reported that Seol </a>is developing an indigenous aircraft carrier as well.</p>
<p>
The South Korean launch came around the same time as the Chinese and the South Koreans were holding talks to improve ties.</p>
<p>
The region has become increasingly tense with numerous territorial disputes and rivalries playing around. The other countries that are locked in tensions include China and Japan over disputed islands, China and Taiwan over the latter's sovereignty, China and South-East Asian nations over Beijing's claims over the South China Sea. Suspicions remain between South Korea and Japan as well.</p>
<p>
The US too has mobilised its allies with Germany, France and the UK sending their warships in the region in a bid to keep the shipping lanes free and open.</p>
<p>
With the two Koreas launching missiles on the same day, tensions have gone up a notch further in a region feeling considerable heat due to China's muscle-flexing.</p>

Rahul Kumar

Rahul Kumar writes on international issues and is a keen watcher of South Asia, environment, urban development and NGOs.

Recent Posts

“Iran launched over 450 ballistic missiles and hundreds of UAVs in last 6 days,” Israel Defence Spox says

Israel Defence Forces Spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin on Thursday said that Iran has expressed…

10 hours ago

French company Safran ties up with HAL to produce LEAP engines’ forged parts

India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and French engine manufacturer, Safran Aircraft Engines, signed an agreement…

12 hours ago

India records highest growth in power generation after US & China in last five years: IEA

India has emerged as a country with the third-largest growth in power generation capacity globally…

13 hours ago

PM Modi lauds Grandmaster Divya Deshmukh for defeating world number one in World Team Blitz Championships

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Indian chess grandmaster Divya Deshmukh for defeating world number one…

13 hours ago

Pakistan: Mahrang Baloch’s sister accuses prison authorities of harassing them during jail visit

The family of detained Baloch leader Mahrang Baloch has accused prison authorities at Quetta's Hudda…

13 hours ago

“Great news for education sector”: PM Modi hails India’s 2026 QS World University Rankings

The QS World University 2026 Rankings bring great news for our education sector, as the…

14 hours ago