ROK-US joint military exercises in the West Sea, Secretary Blinken's visit to Korea, North Korean missile launch

ROK-US joint military exercises in the West Sea, Secretary Blinken's visit to Korea, North Korean missile launch

 

The ROK-US joint forces conducted large-scale reinforcement exercises near Baengnyeong Island and Yeonpyeong Island, and North Korea launched three short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on the 18th upon the US Secretary of State's arrival in Seoul.
Reuters reported on the 18th that North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile into the sea for the first time in two months on Monday while U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Seoul to attend a democracy promotion conference hosted by President Yoon Seok-yeol.
Japan's Ministry of Defense announced that three missiles were launched that day and flew about 350 km at a maximum altitude of 50 km.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said his country's coast guard had already terminated the flight after reporting the launch of an object that appeared to be a ballistic missile, adding, "North Korea's series of actions threaten the peace and security of our region and the international community and are absolutely unacceptable." It said this launch was a violation of UN resolutions.

Korea's Northwestern Island Defense Command conducted a reinforcement exercise near Yeonpyeong Island on the 15th, with a Marine Corps rapid task force, a Navy landing ship (LST-II), a Marine Corps amphibious assault helicopter (MUH-1), an amphibious assault vehicle, and Army special forces and attack helicopters (AH-1). 64) It was revealed that joint forces including mobile helicopters (CH-47, UH-60) participated. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said several short-range missiles launched from Pyongyang, North Korea, between 7:44 and 8:22 a.m. (2244-2322 GMT on Monday) flew about 300 kilometers (186 miles) and landed on the east coast.
Reuters said, “North Korea’s show of force came shortly after South Korea and the United States completed 10 days of large-scale annual joint military exercises last Thursday.” “On the 17th, the South Korean military also mobilized marines, attack helicopters and amphibious assault vehicles to engage North Korea and the United States.” "We conducted training to increase the number of troops to strengthen the western islands near the maritime border, and North Korea shelled these islands in 2010," he said.
The US Marine Corps Aircraft Gun Liaison Company participated in the Joint Final Attack Controller (JTAC) training of the Korea Marine Exercise Program (KMEP) in the Northwestern Islands, in which the ROK and US Marine Corps simultaneously participated, and Close Air Support (CAS) training was also conducted.
On the 7th, during the ROK-US joint exercise 'Shield of Freedom (FS)' exercise period, Marine Corps Commander Kim Gye-hwan and 3rd Marine Mobile Force Commander Roger B. Turner guided joint operations in the Northwestern Islands and outlined procedures for U.S. Marine Corps forces to quickly support the Northwestern Islands in case of emergency. Maeil Business Newspaper reported on the 17th that he learned .
In its last ballistic launch on January 14, North Korea previously fired a mid-range hypersonic missile using solid fuel, testing a new booster engine and maneuverable warhead.
A month later, North Korea launched several cruise missiles from its east coast, including a new anti-ship missile.
Reuters said, “Secretary Blinken is one of the high-ranking officials from around the world attending the Democracy Summit, which opens on the 18th, and is also scheduled to meet with his counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yeol.” “This summit will be held by U.S. President Joe Biden. “We are promoting this to discuss ways to prevent the retreat of democracy and the erosion of rights and freedoms around the world,” he said.