Status: 02/20/2023 03:26 am
According to South Korean sources, North Korea has fired two ballistic missiles at the country’s eastern waters. The South Korean general staff said the rocket launch took place early in the morning.
North Korea has reportedly tested ballistic missiles again. According to the findings of the South Korean military in Seoul, the two short-range missiles were fired in an easterly direction on the open sea, as reported by the Yonhap agency. They took off from the western region of South Pyongan early Monday morning, the South Korean general staff said, and then flew towards the Sea of Japan (Korean: East Sea). According to the Japanese Defense Ministry, they landed outside of Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
Japan wants UN Security Council meeting
After the repeated missile launch, Japan wants to request an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. This was stated by Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to reporters at his official residence. North Korea only resumed its weapons tests on Saturday by launching a Hwasongpho-15 ICBM, Pyongyang confirmed on Sunday.
The missile reached its target area in the Sea of Japan (Korean: East Sea) on Saturday after a flight of 989 kilometers, according to North Korean state media. The most recent ICBM test was intended to increase “deadly” nuclear attack capabilities.
In view of upcoming joint military exercises by the USA and South Korea, further steps have been threatened. The US responded with a show of force, flying long-range B-1B bombers near the Korean Peninsula on Sunday. In addition, training flights took place in coordination with South Korean and Japanese fighter jets.
North Korea increases missile testing despite ban
Intercontinental ballistic missiles are considered the most important carriers for nuclear weapons. Tests with ICBMs and other ballistic missiles are banned from North Korea by United Nations decisions. Tensions on the Korean peninsula had escalated significantly again in the past year. The communist-ruled North Korea, which is subject to international sanctions because of its nuclear weapons program, has increased the scope and speed of its missile tests despite all the bans.