North Korea fires ballistic missile at sea
The short-range missile was fired early Sunday morning local time from the Taechon area of North Pyongan province, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
He said the South Korean and U.S. armies are maintaining a “total readiness position” and cooperating closely after the launch, which he described as a “significant provocative action that harms the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula.” as well as to the international community”.
The JCS said the launch was a “clear violation” of the UN Security Council resolution and called on North Korea to “stop immediately”.
This is the 19th missile launch this year, according to CNN’s tally. The last was August 17.
The missile had a flight range of around 600 kilometers (370 miles), an altitude of 60 kilometers (37 miles) and a speed of around Mach 5, according to the JCS. The intelligence agencies of South Korea and the United States are analyzing in more detail.
Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said the ballistic missile may have flown on an irregular trajectory.
“North Korea reportedly launched at least one missile,” around 6:52 a.m. local time in Japan or 5:52 p.m. Eastern time Saturday, Hamada said.
He added that it falls “near the east coast of North Korea”, outside of Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
“North Korea has launched 19 missiles this year, an unprecedented frequency, including the announcement of a cruise missile launch, and has also launched missiles in new responses,” Japan’s defense minister said. Defense.
He added that “North Korea’s recent remarkable development in nuclear missile technologies cannot be ignored for the security of our country and the region.”
The defense minister added, “We protested to North Korea through the embassy in Beijing.”
The US Indo-Pacific Command said there was “no immediate threat to US territory or military personnel following the launch of a short-range ballistic missile into North Korea”.
The Japanese Coast Guard sent an alert to ships at 6:56 a.m. local time on Sunday, warning them of the missile.
“Vessels are advised to pay attention to additional information and if they see any falling objects, please do not approach them and report the relevant information to the Japanese Coast Guard,” he said.
In an update 15 minutes later, he said the missile would have landed at sea.
The missile launch comes after the strike group from the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier arrived in the southeastern port city of Busan in South Korea on Friday.
The US and South Korean navies are expected to conduct combined exercises this month.
The launch also comes shortly before US Vice President Kamala Harris is due to visit Japan and South Korea.
She will first stop in Tokyo to attend the state funeral of slain former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe before heading to South Korea.
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