North Korea today fired two missiles of unknown type, believed to be ballistic missiles, into the sea east of the Korean peninsula, South Korea's National Defense General Staff said, the fourth missile test this month by the nuclear-armed Asian nation.
North Korea has fired two unidentified missiles into the East Sea - also known as the Sea of Japan - the staff said in Seoul, with the Japanese coast guard confirming the information.
North Korea appears to have fired a missile that may have been a ballistic missile, a Japanese coast guard spokesman said, referring to one - without going into details about its trajectory. The Japanese coast guard said the projectile apparently fell into the sea shortly after it was fired.
Kyodo news agency, citing a government source, said at least one missile landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). On Friday, North Korea launched two tactical guided missiles from a train. It had already proceeded with two other tests, on January 5 and 11.
According to Pyongyang, supersonic missiles were tested on these first two occasions. Reacting to this series of tests, the US government announced last week the imposition of new sanctions, which the North Korean government called a provocation.
North Korea has a legal right to strengthen its defense, a Foreign Ministry spokesman explained to the official KCNA news agency. Despite a series of international sanctions, Pyongyang is redoubling efforts to modernize its military, refusing to respond to calls to resume negotiations made by Washington.
During a meeting of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea last month, the country's leader, Kim Jong-un, pledged to continue developing North Korean military capabilities. U.S. dialogue with North Korea remains suspended while Pyongyang imposes a strict blockade to prevent any outbreak of the new coronavirus in its territory, further hurting its already struggling economy.
Source: KYPE
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