News Spill

According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles from the Munchon region of Kangwon Province to the waters off the peninsula’s eastern coast on Sunday.

According to Japan’s State Minister of Defense, Toshiro Ino, the missiles were launched between 1:47 a.m. and 1:53 a.m. local time Sunday.

Both missiles landed outside of Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone, according to Ino.

According to Ino, the first missile flew around 350 kilometers (217 miles) at a maximum height of roughly 100 kilometers (62 miles). The second went almost the same distance as the first.

Ino stated that there have been no reports of vessel damage at sea, but the defense ministry is currently evaluating the information and researching what type of missiles were launched, including the potential that they were submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

South Korea’s military has increased its observation and alertness while maintaining a full readiness posture while coordinating closely with the US, according to the country’s joint chiefs of staff. North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday, the latest in a string of launches over the last two weeks.

The Japanese Coast Guard advised vessels to pay attention to information and to avoid approaching any objects that have fallen into the water. It also requested that vessels submit any pertinent information.

On Tuesday, North Korea launched another missile that traveled over and beyond Japan, prompting Japan to advise its nationals to seek cover.

The missile is thought to have fallen in the Pacific Ocean after flying over northern Japan early Tuesday morning. North Korea last launched a ballistic missile over Japan in 2017.

The newest launches, according to the US Indo-Pacific Command, “do not represent an imminent danger to US personnel or territory, or to our partners.”

In a statement by the command “We are aware of the two ballistic missile launches and are consulting closely with our allies and partners,” The missile launch highlights the destabilizing impact of the DPRK’s unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs. The US commitments to the defense of the Republic of Korea and Japan remain ironclad.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “down this road” of provocation following its ballistic missile launch Tuesday, “it will only increase the condemnation, increase the isolation and increase the steps that are taken in response to their actions.”

Following North Korea’s latest ballistic missile launches, the US Treasury and State Department announced fresh penalties on Friday.

North Korea typically launches missiles into waters off the Korean Peninsula’s coast, making Tuesday’s flight over Japan far more provocative.

The aggressive increase in weapons testing has alarmed the region, prompting the United States, South Korea, and Japan to respond with missile launches and combined military drills. The US has also redeployed an aircraft carrier into waters near the Korean peninsula, which South Korean officials described as “very unusual.”

According to Ino, Japan made a strong protest against North Korea through its embassy in Beijing.

US, South Korean, and Japanese warships conducted a missile defense practice in the Sea of Japan on Thursday, according to a statement from the US-Indo Pacific Command.