North Korea launches suspected ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan

North Korea Launches Suspected Ballistic Missiles into Sea

Seoul and Tokyo have confirmed that North Korea launched suspected ballistic missiles into the sea on Tuesday, in what appears to be a military exercise ahead of a major political congress in the country.

According to reports from Japan’s Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Defence, Pyongyang fired two projectiles towards the Sea of Japan. The Japanese news agency Jiji Press reported that both missiles landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

South Korea’s Ministry of National Defence also confirmed the launch of at least one unidentified projectile that flew off North Korea’s east coast.

The launches come a day after a high-level visit to Seoul by the Pentagon’s number three official, Defence Undersecretary for Policy Elbridge Colby. The earlier launches, which Pyongyang said involved hypersonic missiles, had successfully hit their targets 1,000km away.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has recently ordered the expansion and modernisation of North Korea’s missile production ahead of a major party congress. Analysts say this drive is aimed at improving precision strike capabilities and testing weapons before potentially exporting them to other countries.

The United Nations has prohibited North Korea from launching or testing ballistic missiles of any range, but Pyongyang has continued to increase its missile testing in recent years.

Source: Al Jazeera