North Korean regime fired at least two “unidentified projectiles” over Sea of ​​Japan

North Korea launched at least two projectiles on Thursday suspected of being ballistic missiles, South Korean, Japanese and US officials reported. it could be the first ballistic missile test since Joe Biden arrived at the White House as president.

South Korean chiefs of staff said in a statement that at least two “unidentified projectiles” had been fired into the Sea of ​​Japan, Known as the East Sea by Koreans, originally from South Korea’s Hamgyong province on the east coast.

South Korean and American intelligence authorities were analyzing the shooting data for additional information.

While the Japanese authorities have noted that They could be ballistic missiles and they fell outside the territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone of Japan. Previously, the Japanese Coast Guard warned ships not to approach fallen objects and asked them to provide information about it.

US officials confirmed to the news agency Reuters that North Korea launched a new missile launch, without providing details on the number or type of projectile detected.

Kim Jong-un’s nuclear regime is prohibited from developing ballistic missiles under UN Security Council resolutions. But it has made rapid progress in its capabilities, testing missiles capable of reaching the entire continental United States, since tensions rose in 2017.

Thursday’s incident comes after Pyongyang fired two short-range non-ballistic missiles westward toward China over the weekend. This follows a visit to the region by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to discuss alliance and security issues in the region, in which North Korea is considered a central threat.

Biden played down those North Korean tests over the weekend and He said Washington officials remain open to dialogue with Pyongyang.

The US president’s diplomatic proposals to North Korea have gone unanswered, and Pyongyang has said it will not engage until Washington abandons its hostile policies, including holding military exercises with South Korea.

Senior US officials said on Wednesday that the review of the Biden administration’s policy on North Korea was in its “final stages” and that next week the US government would welcome national security advisers from Japan. and South Korea to discuss this scenario.

With information from AFP and Reuters

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