North Korea launches 2 ballistic missiles

North Korea launched two shortrange ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan on Thursday, the Japanese government announced. Both missiles fell outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

The missiles were fired from an area near Sondok in the eastern part of North Korea at 7:04 a.m. and 7:23 a.m. It is the first time Pyongyang has launched ballistic missiles since March 29 last year.

“This is a threat to the peace and security of our country and the region,”

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said at the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday.

“It is also a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions. We strongly protest and condemn the launches.”

According to the Defense Ministry, the missiles were fired eastward from North Korea and flew about 450 kilometers at an altitude of less than 100 kilometers.

The government said no damage to aircraft or ships has been confirmed.

The government held a National Security Council meeting at about 8 a.m. on Thursday to discuss its response to the launches. The government also lodged protests against North Korea through diplomatic channels in Beijing.

Meanwhile, Takehiro Funakoshi, director general of the Foreign Ministry’s Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, held telephone talks with Sung Kim, the U.S. State Department acting assistant secretary in charge of East Asian and Pacific affairs.

They confirmed that Japan and the United States would work together closely to deal with the matter.

A U.S. Indo-Pacific Command statement stressed the United States’ unwavering commitment to the defense of

Japan and South Korea.

On Sunday, North Korea launched two short-range projectiles believed to be cruise missiles toward the Yellow Sea. The launches were within the scope of regular North Korean military exercises, according to the United States.

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has been reviewing the country’s policy toward North Korea.

A source close to the Japanese government said, “I think North Korea is gradually raising the level and monitoring how the United States reacts.” (March 26)