U.S. Pacific Command Says North Korean Missile Provocation Is "Not an Immediate Threat"

[Financial News] U.S. Pacific Command acknowledged North Korea's ballistic missile provocation and assessed that it does not constitute an immediate threat.
U.S. Pacific Command issued a statement on social media X on the 20th (local time), stating that it is aware of North Korea's missile launch and is consulting closely with allies and partners. It further asserted, "Based on current assessments, this incident does not pose an immediate threat to the U.S. people, territory, or allies," adding that "the United States remains committed to defending the U.S. mainland and its allies in the region."
According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the South Korean military detected one short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) launched from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea around 3 p.m. on the 20th. The detected missile flew approximately 450 km. North Korea launched an additional short-range ballistic missile from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea at 5:50 p.m. on the same day, and that missile flew over 600 km.
Both missiles launched on the two occasions are presumed to be from the Hwasong-11 series, North Korea's representative short-range ballistic missile family. The Hwasong-11 series includes the Hwasong-11-ga (KN-23), known as the "North Korean 9K720 Iskander short-range ballistic missile system," and the Hwasong-11-na (KN-24), known as the "North Korean ATACMS."
This is North Korea's 14th ballistic missile launch this year and the first in eight days. On the 12th, North Korea also launched several SRBMs from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea. The statement released by U.S. Pacific Command on the 20th contains the same wording as the statement issued at the time of the provocation on the 12th.
It is highly likely that North Korea's latest provocation was aimed at U.S. President Donald Trump's speech at the UN General Assembly general debate on the 22nd and the U.S.-China summit on the 24th, where the North Korean issue is expected to be discussed.


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