North Korea continues to launch many ballistic missiles into the eastern sea, raising concerns about its weapons program.
According to South Korea and Japan on April 19, the missiles were launched from the area near Sinpo city at about 6:10 am, falling into the sea east of the Korean peninsula. Japan said that no signs of missiles violating its exclusive economic zone have been recorded.
This is North Korea's 7th ballistic missile launch in the year and the 4th in April, reflecting a significant increase in frequency. The South Korean Presidential Office held an emergency security meeting to assess the situation.
These tests violate resolutions of the United Nations Security Council related to North Korea's missile program. Pyongyang rejects the bans, saying they violate sovereign self-defense rights.
Mr. Lim Eul-chul - a professor at Kyungnam University (South Korea - said that North Korea may take advantage of the time when the US focuses on the conflict with Iran to accelerate the development of nuclear and missile capabilities. This development occurred before the expected conference between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where the North Korea issue may be discussed.
The International Atomic Energy Agency assessed that North Korea has made "very important" progress in its nuclear weapons production capabilities, with the ability to add a new uranium enrichment facility.
Previously, North Korean President Kim Jong Un affirmed that the status of a nuclear-weapon nation is irreversible and expanding deterrence capabilities is necessary for national security.
