Seoul, South Korea
CNN
—
South Korea’s military said it scrambled about 80 fighter jets after detecting dozens of North Korean fighters over the course of four hours on Friday, further escalating tensions in the region.
In a statement, the South Korean military said about 180 North Korean military aircraft were deployed between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. local time the day after Pyongyang is believed to have failed to test an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). He said he found the machine.
Tensions on the Korean peninsula began to rise as hundreds of aircraft and thousands of military personnel from both countries took part in joint “alert storm” military exercises between the United States and South Korea on Monday, according to the United States.
Condemning allied provocations, North Korea fired 23 missiles from its east and west coasts into waters on both sides of the peninsula on Wednesday, the most in a single day. missile.
South Korea’s deployment on Friday included an unspecified number of F-35A stealth fighters, according to a statement, while South Korean fighters participating in the ongoing joint operation also “maintained readiness.” are there,” the South Korean military said.
After Thursday’s alleged ICBM test, the United States and South Korea announced a one-day extension of training until Nov. 5, but North Korean officials called the move “very dangerous and erroneous,” according to state media. choice,” he denounced.
Later, after meeting with the South Korean side at the Pentagon, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin accused North Korea of ”irresponsible and reckless activity.”
“We have previously stated that this type of activity could potentially destabilize the region. Therefore, we call on them to cease such activity and initiate a serious dialogue.” said Austin.
A UN Security Council meeting is scheduled to meet on Friday to discuss North Korea’s recent missile launches. The US, UK, France, Albania, Ireland and Norway had called for a public meeting, according to a spokesperson for the US UN mission.
In an interview with CNN Wednesday, Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas Greenfield condemned North Korea’s actions, saying the country had violated multiple Security Council resolutions.
Thomas Greenfield said the UN would “pressure” China and Russia to improve and tighten such sanctions. She declined to say whether US President Joe Biden would impose sanctions on Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20, but said it was “on the mind of the president.”
