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North Korea’s military flew a dozen warplanes near its border with South Korea, which prompted it to scramble 30 military planes in response on Thursday.
The North flew high fighter jets and four bombers in formation in what is believed to have been air-to-surface firing drills, and while the South scrambled its fighter jets, the two sides did not engage militarily, according to the Associated Press. This military dust-up comes as tension on the Korean Peninsula has increased in recent weeks as North Korea has continued to increase the frequency of its launch missile tests.
KIM JONG UN’S NORTH KOREA FIRES TWO BALLISTIC MISSILES ONE DAY BEFORE KAMALA HARRIS’S DMZ VISIT
Prior to the fracas in the air, North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters, and these were in response to the United States’s military movements after it launched a nuclear-capable missile over Japan earlier this week.
Following Thursday’s launches by North Korea, the U.S., South Korea, and Japan performed a missile defense exercise in the Sea of Japan. The guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville and the guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold participated in the exercise along with two Japanese and one South Korean destroyers, according to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
“This exercise enhances the interoperability of our collective forces and demonstrates the strength of the trilateral relationship with our Japan and Republic of Korea (ROK) allies, which is forward-leaning, reflective of our shared values, and resolute against those who challenge regional stability,” the U.S. Pacific Command statement said.
“Also this week,” the statement said, “the United States conducted air exercises with our ROK and Japanese Allies, as well as a joint tactical missile live-fire exercise with the ROK.”
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The North Korean Foreign Ministry, in response, said it is “watching the U.S. posing a serious threat to the stability of the situation on the Korean peninsula and in its vicinity by redeploying the carrier task force in the waters off of the Korean Peninsula,” according to state-run Korean Central News Agency.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has repeatedly disregarded concerns from the West as he forges ahead in his efforts to grow its nuclear program. It has aggressively launched missile tests this year, with more than 40 ballistic and cruise missile tests, leading to increased tension in the region.
