Allies Unveil System to Track North Korean Missiles
Japan, South Korea and the United States activated a system in December 2023 to detect and assess North Korea’s missile launches in real time.
The announcement came after North Korea said it had tested an intercontinental ballistic missile to gauge the war readiness of its nuclear force. United Nations Security Council resolutions ban Pyongyang’s nuclear and ballistic weapons programs.
The three countries will share information on the launch site, trajectory and strike point of North Korean missiles, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said.
“We will have warning data on North Korean missiles much faster and be able to secure enough time to respond effectively,” he told broadcaster Maeil Broadcasting Network, Inc.
Officials called the mechanism a milestone that will advance trilateral security cooperation and improve the ability of all three nations to ensure the safety of their people.
“This is a significant expression of just how far trilateral cooperation has come, in no small part due to the growing threat from North Korea,” said Ankit Panda, a senior fellow at the U.S.-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
“In practical terms, this will enhance the fidelity with which both Japan and South Korea can assess missile events originating in North Korea,” he said.
Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, said real-time missile information sharing marks a new chapter for defense cooperation among Japan, South Korea and the U.S., which is essential for regional security.
The Associated Press
