It's the last day of 2022... North Korea's 'counter response' with solid fuel rockets?

<Anchor>

North Korea's provocations that continued throughout the year continued until today (31st).

It is worth noting that three short-range missiles were launched into the East Sea, the very next day after the South Korean military conducted a projectile test, and that these missiles also use solid fuel.

First of all, I will come to see the Reporter Jeong Yoon-shik report.

<Reporter>

It was around 8 am today when North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile.

It was analyzed that three shots were fired at 8:01, 14, and 15 minutes from a mobile launch vehicle in Chunghwa County, North Hwanghae Province, about 60 kilometers south of Pyongyang.

After all three shots flew to the northeast, the military believes that they landed on an uninhabited island in the East Sea that North Korea often uses as a test launch target.

[Lee Seong-joon/Chief of Public Affairs Office, Joint Chiefs of Staff: After flying about 350 km, it landed in the East Sea

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Today's missile launch resumed eight days after North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles in the Sunan area of ​​Pyongyang on the 23rd, and it is the first missile fired from Junghwa County, North Hwanghae Province.

North Korea's ballistic missile appears to be a KN series of solid fuel propulsion, but it is noticeable that it is the same solid fuel propulsion method as our military's space launch vehicle.

North Korea has launched a total of 70 ballistic missiles on 38 occasions so far this year, including eight intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The US State Department said it condemns North Korea's missile launch today, saying it violated a UN Security Council resolution.

(Video coverage: Han Il-sang, video editing: Yoon Tae-ho)

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<Anchor>

Let's analyze a little more with reporter Jeong Yoon-sik.

[Reporter Jung Yun-shik: There is a probability.

With the South Korean military's second successful test flight of a solid fuel-powered space launch vehicle yesterday, expectations have grown that we will now be able to put our reconnaissance satellites into space.

It would be unpleasant for North Korea if our reconnaissance satellite could see all the way to North Korea's home.

So, there is an analysis that immediately started a power demonstration.

It is not common for North Korea to provoke during the plenary meeting to settle the year.

However, there are also objections.

Not long ago, armed provocations in various ways, including drones, were repeated, and there is a prospect that a feverish parade is imminent.

For this reason, there is an analysis that this provocation should be regarded as following North Korea's own timetable.]

[Reporter Jung Yun-shik: Yes, this space launch vehicle was launched from the Anheung test site in Taean, South Chungcheong Province, heading south.

These days, it is said that a large skate fishing ground has been formed in the sea south of Taean.

In order to shoot the projectile, fishing boats in the middle of the operation must be evacuated, but a military official explained that this was not easy.

The originally scheduled test launch date was 1-2 weeks ago, but as the process of persuading the fishing boats to withdraw was delayed, the launch was inevitably possible only yesterday evening.

The first test launch, which took place in March, was also conducted in secret.

Only a few people in the military, including the Minister of Defense, were aware of this launch, so the military could not immediately come up with an explanation despite the rain of reports, so the confusion increased.]