Kathmandu, Jan 15: North Korea launched a suspected ballistic missile off its east coast on Sunday, marking the first such launch in 2024. This move comes in the wake of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s recent commitment to enhance the country’s nuclear strike capability.

Japan’s Coast Guard and South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported the missile launch, with no immediate information available regarding the projectile’s travel distance. The launch occurred shortly after North Korea fired an artillery shell near the tense maritime border with South Korea. Responding to the earlier shelling, South Korea conducted a similar firing exercise in the same region.

In a significant announcement at the end of December during a ruling party meeting, Kim Jong Un pledged to increase the stockpile of nuclear weapons and launch more spy satellites. The recent missile launch aligns with these assertions, raising concerns about the escalation of tensions in the region.

Kim Jong Un’s strong statements regarding nuclear weapons have heightened international apprehensions. The North Korean leader emphasized that he would not hesitate to launch a nuclear attack if provoked by an external threat. The official news agency KCNA reported that Kim has issued clear instructions to utilize nuclear weapons in response to any nuclear aggression or provocation by the enemy.

In a recent display of North Korea’s military capabilities, the country launched the Hwang-18 intercontinental ballistic missile, touted as its most potent missile to date. The international community closely monitors North Korea’s actions, and such developments contribute to the ongoing geopolitical complexities in the region.