North Korea: North Korean military launches two projectiles into the East Sea Sept. 15

Event

South Korean military officials reported that North Korea fired two projectiles into the East Sea (Sea of Japan) Sept. 15. The launch site, exact flight path, and distance of the projectiles remain unclear, but Japanese authorities said the projectiles did not enter its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). There have been no reports of damage, injuries, or transport disruptions following the launches.

Context

The launches followed missile tests that North Korea conducted Sept. 11-12 and will at least marginally increase regional tensions. While overall tensions between North Korea and the US, along with South Korea, have eased significantly since early 2018, the fundamental dynamics of the standoff on the Korean Peninsula remain largely unaltered. North Korea controls an arsenal of nuclear devices and long-range missiles, despite the UN sanctions against its weapons programs. Pyongyang has previously stated it will only give up its nuclear weapons in exchange for concrete moves to decrease perceived US threats against North Korea. Both sides are highly likely to avoid any actions that could escalate into a full-scale conflict.