North Korea responds to sanctions with missile launch

The shells, short-range shot from the east coast and fell on the Sea of Japan

North Korea fired Thursday morning six short-range missiles from its east coast towards the sea, as reported by the South Korean Defense Ministry, which is interpreted as a response to the UN resolution adopted on Wednesday that toughens sanctions against the regime led by Kim Jong-un.

The missiles were launched from Wonsan-a port city and naval base on the east coast of North Korea around 10.00 local time (1.00 GMT), according to the Yonhap news agency. As usual, no official confirmation of this operation by the North Korean media, which have not made any reference to the resolution adopted by the UN, which collects the most severe economic sanctions imposed on China in the last 20 years.

The South Korean Defense Ministry is still analyzing what type of missiles were launched, but confirmed that "several rounds" of missiles were fired and they all fell over the sea after traveling between 100 and 150 kilometers. The Southern Army has increased its vigilance over their northern neighbors.

The launches of short-range missiles by the North Korean military are common in response to what it considers threats from abroad, such as conducting joint military maneuvers South Korea and the United States each year on the Korean peninsula. Other times it does just as part of your routine.

The UN sanctions, including a ban on selling the regime certain natural resources used to develop its nuclear program, require to register any goods entering or leaving the country, whether by land, sea or air. It also prohibits exports of coal, iron and other minerals from North Korea, so far accounted for almost half of total sales outside the country and posed a major foreign exchange earner. One of the main suppliers of China is China, which this time also supported the Security Council resolution.

The decision to tighten sanctions came after last January 6th North Korea carried out its fourth nuclear test, which exploded "satisfactorily" a hydrogen bomb, according secured state media, which the international community questioned. A month later, the regime launched a long-range rocket to theoretically put into orbit a satellite, but it was considered as a disguised test of a ballistic missile.

These two episodes ended with the patience of South Korea, technically still at war with the North. Seoul ordered the temporary closure of the Kaesong industrial estate, one of the few joint initiatives between both countries and reissued propaganda against the regime of Kim through speakers that are installed on the border.

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