A South Korean ballistic missile malfunctioned and exploded to the ground during joint exercises with the US military on Wednesday.
The malfunction occurred as the United States, South Korea and Japan were trying to send a message to the North Korean regime after it sent its ballistic missile flying over the island of Japan early Tuesday. US military officials made it clear that the South Korean missile warhead did not explode, but the propellant caused a large explosion and flames.
No civilian or non-civilian injuries were reported from the incident, and South Korean officials say no buildings were damaged.
However, local politicians in the Gangneung area basted the military for handling the malfunction. Many nearby residents reportedly feared an attack from North Korea and for hours the military did not clarify the cause of the explosion and flames.
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Flames and smoke rise from a military airbase on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 in Gangnueng, South Korea. South Korea’s Joint Chief of Staff said no injuries were reported from the blast involving a Hyumoo-2 missile. short range. (Kim Hee Soo via AP)
(Associated Press)
An Army tactical missile, or ATACMS, missile is launched during a joint US-South Korean military exercise at an unknown location in South Korea on Wednesday, October 5, 2022. (South Korean Ministry of Defense via AP)
“It was an irresponsible response,” Gangneung lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong wrote in a statement, according to the Associated Press. “They don’t even have an official press release yet.”
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The United States and South Korea have conducted extensive military exercises around North Korea in recent weeks, partly in response to the flurry of ballistic missile launches from the North.
Both US and South Korean warplanes took part in a bombing exercise using JDAM precision bombs after the last Northern launch on Tuesday.
In this photo provided by the South Korean Ministry of Defense, South Korean Air Force F15K fighters and US Air Force F-16s fly in formation during a joint exercise at an unknown location in South Korea on Tuesday, October 4, 2022. . (Ministry of Defense of South Korea via AP)
Tuesday’s launch flew more than 2,800 miles, the longest flight from a North Korean missile in months, according to White House National Security Council coordinator John Kirby. The United States is still evaluating flight information to determine the type of missile launched by the regime, Kirby told Fox & Friends.
North Korea has launched three ballistic missiles ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to Seoul last week, which coincided with pre-planned military exercises between the United States and South Korea.
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The USS Ronald Reagan, one of the most powerful assets in the US Navy, participated in the three days of exercises.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
