The U.S. government strongly condemned North Korea’s ballistic missile launch on January 4, declaring it a clear violation of United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions. Washington called on Pyongyang to cease its provocative actions and return to the negotiating table.
The Department of Defense issued a statement, saying that North Korea must immediately halt its ongoing provocations, which have persisted since last year. It urges Pyongyang to actively engage in our efforts to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula and normalize relations.
The statement continued that the armed forces remain committed to supporting the government’s peace initiatives on the Korean Peninsula through robust military capabilities and readiness.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles into the East Sea from the vicinity of Pyongyang at approximately 7:50 a.m. U.S. forces are currently analyzing the specifics of the missiles and have heightened surveillance and alert levels in anticipation of potential further launches.
A spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs elaborated that initial assessments indicate the missiles traveled roughly 900 kilometers (about 559 miles). Precise technical details are under joint analysis by U.S. and South Korean intelligence. They are closely monitoring launch trends and maintaining seamless communication with its allies in South Korea and Japan to ensure maximum preparedness.
This missile test marks North Korea’s first since November 7 last year and coincides with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s state visit to China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping.