North Korea fires fourth round of missile tests in one week

North Korea has fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters

North Korea on October 1 fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters, South Korean and Japanese officials said, making it the fourth round of weapons launches this week that are seen as a response to military drills among its rivals.

South Korea’s military said in a statement that it detected the two North Korean missile launches Saturday morning from its capital region.

It said South Korea has bolstered its surveillance posture and maintains a military readiness in close coordination with the United States.

Japan’s Defense Ministry said it also spotted the ballistic missile launches by North Korea.

Japan’s Vice Defense Minister Toshiro Ino said North Korea's repeated missile firings are “one-sidedly and persistently escalating provocations.”

“North Korea’s actions threaten the peace and safety not only for Japan but also the region and the international community, and are absolutely impermissible,” Mr. Ino said, calling the four launches in one week “unprecedented.”

He said the two missiles were fired eastward from North Korea’s western coast within about 15 minutes of each other.