South Korea and Japan have stated that on Wednesday (September 18), North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles towards its east coast. This is the second launch by North Korea in a week. Just days ago, North Korea publicly revealed a uranium enrichment facility and vowed to strengthen its nuclear arsenal, drawing condemnation from the United States, South Korea, and Japan.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of South Korea stated that the latest missiles launched by North Korea on Wednesday morning at 6:50 am from the area of Pyongan North Road in the northern outskirts of Pyongyang, flew approximately 400 kilometers (249 miles) northeast. The South Korean military did not specify the exact number of missiles launched or where they landed.
In a statement, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, “We strongly condemn North Korea’s missile launch, which is a blatant provocation that poses a serious threat to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula.”
South Korea has vowed to respond strongly to any further provocations from North Korea.
According to the Japanese Ministry of Defense’s estimation, the missiles fell outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara stated that at least one missile fell near the eastern coast inland of North Korea, and the missile launch “is unacceptable.”
The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea announced that the military has intensified tracking and surveillance, sharing missile launch information with the United States and Japan to maintain a high level of alertness at all times.
The office of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol held a meeting to assess the security situation and called on North Korea to stop all provocations, including releasing balloons filled with garbage towards South Korea.
The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a release that nuclear envoys from South Korea, Japan, and the United States condemned the launch in a phone call, stating that the launch violated United Nations resolutions and pledged to respond sternly to any further provocations.
The US Indo-Pacific Command stated on the social media platform X that they are aware of these launch activities and are closely consulting with South Korea and Japan.
This latest launch comes just 5 days after North Korea publicly disclosed its uranium enrichment facility for the first time and marks North Korea’s second ballistic missile provocation in 6 days. On September 12, North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles into the eastern sea area. The South Korean military detected the missiles flying a distance of over 360 kilometers.
(References were made to reports from Reuters and Yonhap News Agency.)