New missile tests from North Korea raise tensions

North Korea has fired two ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan. It was announced that the missiles, one with a maximum altitude of 350 kilometers and the other 800 kilometers, fell outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone and did not cause any damage. The Japanese Ministry of Defense and the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that North Korea launched two ballistic missiles in the direction of the Sea of Japan (East Sea). The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that the two short-range ballistic missiles were launched from the Samsok region near Pyongyang at 06:01 and 06:23 local time. Japanese Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu said that the missiles, one with a maximum altitude of 350 kilometers and the other 800 kilometers, fell outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. Noting that no damage was detected to the ships and aircraft sailing in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) where the missiles fell, Minister Hamada stated that a protest note had been given to North Korea. It had conducted the first test over Japan in 5 years. Condemning the test, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio stated that the Pyongyang administration’s numerous recorded missile tests were “absolutely unacceptable.” Japan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ishikane Kimihiro said that with the latest test, North Korea had shown that “the inaction of the UN Security Council was turned into an advantage.” It was noteworthy that the latest missile was launched after the US nuclear-powered Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier was redeployed to the region for joint exercises with South Korea. North Korea conducted its 6th test in the last 12 days. On October 4, the ballistic missile passed northeast of Japan for the first time since 2017 and fell into the Pacific Ocean.