SEOUL, May 12 (Reuters) – North Korea fired three ballistic missiles at sea off its east coast on Thursday, South Korea and Japan said in a recent move as the isolated country races to advance its weapons programs on the day first reported an outbreak of COVID-19.
Three short-range ballistic missiles were fired at about 6.30pm (09:30 GMT) from the Sunan area of the northern capital Pyongyang, where the international airport is located and where the North said it had launched its largest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). , Hwasong-17, on March 24, announced the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea (JCS).
The missiles flew approximately 360 kilometers (224 miles), reaching an altitude of 90 kilometers and a top speed of Mach 5, JCS reported. The U.S. military says the launch does not pose an immediate threat to it or its allies.
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com
I’m registering
Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said the missiles flew about 350 km to a maximum altitude of about 100 km before landing outside Japan’s territorial waters.
“A series of rocket launches during the invasion of Ukraine is unacceptable,” he told reporters, adding that Tokyo had protested against North Korea through its embassy in Beijing.
The 16th known weapons test in the North this year came hours after announcing its first outbreak of COVID-19, declaring “the worst national emergency” and ordering a national blockade. Read more
The launch was also the first since South Korean Conservative President Yun Suk-yol took office this week, signaling a strong line against the development of weapons in the North.
Yoon’s National Security Service issued a statement condemning the launch and saying it “condemned the hypocritical behavior” of launching ballistic missiles and ignoring the plight of people in the midst of the COVID outbreak.
In its latest weapons test on Saturday, the North used a ballistic missile fired from a submarine it has been aggressively developing in recent years. Read more
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promised late last month to accelerate the country’s nuclear arsenal amid stalled denuclearization talks with the United States. Read more
US and South Korean officials say Pyongyang’s first nuclear test in 2017 could take place this month. Read more
In a statement, the U.S. military said it was in close consultation with its allies and partners during Thursday’s launch. “The rocket launch underscores the destabilizing impact of the DPRK’s illegal weapons program,” the statement said.
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com
I’m registering
Report by Hyonhee Shin; Edited by Alison Williams, Bernadette Baum and Hugh Lawson
Our standards: Thomson Reuters’ principles of trust.
Add Comment