North Korea test-fired ballistic missiles in latest military display, neighbours say
CTV
North Korea on Wednesday test-fired multiple ballistic missiles toward its eastern seas, the South Korean and Japanese militaries said, adding to its military demonstrations as tensions with Washington and neighbours escalate.
North Korea on Wednesday test-fired multiple ballistic missiles toward its eastern seas, the South Korean and Japanese militaries said, adding to its military demonstrations as tensions with Washington and neighbours escalate.
The launches come days after North Korea offered a rare view into a secretive facility built to enrich uranium for nuclear bombs as leader Kim Jong Un called for a rapid expansion of his nuclear weapons program.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected North Korea firing multiple short-range ballistic missiles from north of its capital, Pyongyang, and said they travelled about 400 kilometres (244 miles) while flying toward the northeast.
The joint chiefs said it was closely communicating with the United States and Japan while analyzing the launches but didn't immediately provide further flight details.
Japan's defence ministry said it detected at least two launches but didn't immediately say what types of missiles they were and how far they flew.
Japan's coast guard said the missiles were believed to have already fallen into waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan and urged vessels to watch out for falling objects. Japan's NHK television said the missiles were believed to have landed outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone.
The South Korean joint chiefs condemned the launches as a provocation that "seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula." It said in a statement that South Korean and U.S. militaries were closely monitoring North Korean activities while maintaining a combined defence posture "to respond overwhelmingly to any provocation."
