North Korea today launched a trial projectile towards the Sea of Japan (called the East Sea in both Koreas) which the South Korean military considers to be a ballistic missile. The southern Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported at first that the North launched an “unidentified projectile” and minutes later sent a statement stating that “North Korea launched a projectile that believed to be a ballistic missile from the interior of the country in the direction of the East Sea at 8.10 (23.10 GMT on Tuesday) today. “The text adds that the southern army is closely monitoring the situation in cooperation with US forces.
For its part, the Japanese government has also indicated that it believes that what Pyongyang launched today is a ballistic missile. The Japanese Executive condemned the shooting on Wednesday and affirmed that it will further strengthen its surveillance systems. “It is extremely regrettable that North Korea has continued to launch missiles since last year. The government will further strengthen surveillance,” Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at a press conference on Wednesday. “At the moment we are analyzing the incident in detail to inform the population,” said the Japanese president and explained that the Government works to collect information, confirm the safety of ships, planes and citizens and remains vigilant. United Nations Security Council resolutions passed since 2006 sanction the development and use of ballistic missile technology by the North Korean regime.
It is the first projectile fired by North Korea, which technically still at war with the South since the conflict that faced them in 1950 and 1953 was only sealed with a ceasefire, since it launched a submarine ballistic missile (SLBM) in October last year. In turn, the fact that North Korea has launched a missile as a test during the month of January is something unusual, since at that time the North Korean People’s Army is conducting winter maneuvers.
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