[A photo of the North Korean flag. Photo credit to Wikipedia Commons] 

On January 27th, North Korea launched multiple suspected ballistic missiles into the waters off its east coast.

This sudden action prompted immediate responses from Japan, South Korea, and the United States.

The launches were detected by regional military authorities, and serve as one of the most significant weapons demonstrations that have come from Pyongyang this year.

South Korea’s Joint Chief of Staff confirmed that the missile was fired from areas near Pyongyang and landed in the Sea of Japan after traveling several hundred kilometers.

Japanese defense officials elaborated, explaining that at least two ballistic projectiles were detected, and that none landed within Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone, a radius of water surrounding Japan in which they control the farming and fishing of all marine life.

While these missiles did not cause any immediate damages, the event has raised surveillance from both countries in preparation for any additional threats that may appear.

The missile test was condemned harshly by both Seoul and Tokyo, which characterized the launches as provocative and threatening to national safety, placing emphasis on the fact that ballistic missile testing is prohibited by the United Nations.

South Korea’s defence force stated that the United States military has affirmed support for its allies in the region but has emphasized the fact that the launch is not a threat to both the U.S. and South Korea alike.

At the same time, Korean officials reiterated their orders for North Korea to cease their actions, due to its threat to regional peace, as well as its opposition to international law.

Japan’s military has also been placed on high-alert due to these missile launches, and is now actively monitoring both their radar and missile-tracking systems to prevent further risks.

Tokyo has repeatedly expressed their concern that North Korea’s continued launch of ballistic testing missiles serves as a threat to Japanese security, even if said missiles do not enter Japanese airspace.

The launch of January 27th does not seem to be an independent case, but rather part of a broader pattern of weapons testing that North Korea has conducted in recent months.

Earlier this year, Pyongyang conducted additional missile tests, including those that it described as surpassing the speed of sound.

This hints towards North Korea’s efforts towards creating a more sophisticated and reliable arsenal of ballistic weapons.

Lim Eul-chul, a professor at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies in Seoul, suggests that the timing of the launches was anything but random, connecting the most recent launch to the South Korean president’s visit to Beijing to meet the Chinese President Xi Jinping.

North Korea’s desire to conduct military testing during these situations is likely due to the fact that they have long demanded to be seen as a major actor in the region it occupies, and strong diplomatic relationships between its border countries would derail their goal.

The United States has also taken action against the launches, condemning them while also reaffirming its support for its allies in the region.

U.S. officials have underscored the importance of cooperation between Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo, particularly in regards to missile defense and intelligence sharing.

Despite repeated attempts to restrain them, North Korea has shown little intention of changing course.

Diplomatic talks aimed to halt Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs have remained largely frozen, with disagreements over sanctions, security guarantees, and denuclearization.  As a result, missile tests continue to be North Korea’s main method of exerting force onto both the nations around it and large powers such as the U.S.