USA requested this Tuesday that the UN Security Council meet urgently on Wednesday to discuss the new launch of a ballistic missile carried out by North Koreaaccording to what a diplomatic source told Efe.
The projectile launched by Pyongyang flew over the north of the Japanese archipelago, which caused the civil alert system to be activated in the area, recommending that the population seek refuge from a possible impact.
According to the Government of Japanthe missile has traveled the longest distance to date of all those tested by North Koreawith a maximum height close to 1,000 kilometers and a final distance of 4,600 kilometers.
The projectile fell in Pacific waters and outside Japan’s exclusive economic space, according to the Ministry of Defencewhich for the moment has not detected any damage to aircraft or boats in the area.
The new North Korean launch comes following Tokyo, Washington and Seoul last week carried out joint drills in the Sea of Japan to counter North Korean weapons developments of SLBMs (submersible-fired ballistic missiles). in which the American aircraft carrier USS “Ronald Reagan” participated.
North Korea has made another four rounds of missile launches since last September 25.all of them with short-range ballistic projectiles, so the last test is the one with the highest range.
This type of testing with long-range weapons capable of carrying nuclear warheads is prohibited by resolutions of the UN Security Council, which usually meets every time Pyongyang perform a test.
Last May, USA proposed tightening international sanctions once morest North Korea in response to its repeated weapons tests, but Russia and China vetoed the initiative.
Japan and the US hold joint exercise
Military aircraft from Japan and the United States resumed a joint drill on Tuesday in response to the launch of a North Korean ballistic missile.Japanese authorities reported.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff of Japan It said eight Japanese and four American fighter jets took part in the drill in airspace west of the Kyushu region.
“As the security environment surrounding Japan becomes increasingly complicated, including the launch of a ballistic missile by North Korea that flew over Japanthe Self-Defense Forces and the US military conducted a joint exercise,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.
The forces “confirmed their readiness and demonstrated, both at home and abroad, the firm determination to Japan y USA to deal with any situation,” he added.
(With information from EFE agency)
