South Korea’s military says North Korea fired two new ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan, east of the peninsula, Yonhap news agency reports.
North Korea fired a ballistic missile towards the East Sea, the South Korean army announced on Monday morning (shortly before midnight Sunday, French time), indicates Yonhap News Agency. Minutes later, a second launch was reported by Seoul.
For its part, the Japanese Ministry of Defense claims that Pyongyang launched “what could be a ballistic missile”, reports Japan’s public media, NHK. The Japanese Coast Guard said shortly after that the projectile “appears to have already fallen”, without further details.
Three shots in 48 hours
North Korea confirmed on Sunday that it fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) the day before as a warning to Washington and Seoul, saying the “surprise” successful exercise demonstrates its “deadly nuclear counterattack” capabilities.
In response, the South Korean military said on Sunday it had organized joint aerial maneuvers with the United States, mobilizing stealth aircraft and at least one American B-1B long-range bomber.
Japan had said the ICBM flew 66 minutes before diving without its exclusive economic zone.
Turning the Pacific into a “firing range” depends on Washington’s actions, Pyongyang warned on Monday, after firing three missiles in just 48 hours.
