North Korea fires ballistic missile that flew over Japan
NBCDec 23, 2022
North Korea Fires More Missiles, Second Launch in Three Days
Image copyright: Al Jazeera and News Agencies
The Facts
North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles over the Sea of Japan on Thursday, hours after the US abruptly redeployed its aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan to waters off the Korean peninsula and performed exercises with South Korea. It was North Korea's sixth launch in less than two weeks and its second in three days.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said North Korea launched the missiles from the vicinity of Pyongyang, the North Korean capital. According to the Japanese defense ministry, the missiles traveled at low altitudes to better evade missile defenses. The first missile flew 350 km (215 miles), and the second 900 km (500 miles). Both landed in the Pacific Ocean.
The Spin
Republican narrative
You can’t blame Kim Jong-un for flexing North Korea’s military muscle when Biden is recklessly saber-rattling with Taiwan and China. How does Kim know the US won't also team up with South Korea for an invasion of the North? Trump's relationship with and policies towards North Korea maintained stability in the Korean Peninsula.
Democratic narrative
Kim Jong-un's geopolitical actions have been erratic, and his missile launches are destabilizing the Peninsula. Instead of provoking a confrontation, the leader should take the Biden administration up on its offer to meet without preconditions, and settle any of his grievances peacefully. Biden is showing strength and prudence in the region.