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North Korea reportedly fired two ballistic missiles off its east coast on Wednesday in the direction of Japan, prompting the Japanese prime minister to denounce the action as “absolutely scandalous”, according to reports.
North Korea’s latest missile fire came days after it allegedly tested newly developed long-range missiles over the weekend, according to reports.
“The gunfire threatens the peace and security of Japan and the region and is absolutely scandalous,” Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said, according to the Associated Press. “The government of Japan is determined to further intensify its vigilance and surveillance to prepare for any eventuality.”
“The government of Japan is determined to further step up its vigilance and surveillance to prepare for any eventuality.”
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga speaks in Nagasaki, Japan, August 9, 2021 (Associated Press)
South Korean newspaper Yonhap News reported the latest shooting, citing information from the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, who were conducting an analysis of the situation, Yonhap reported.
The Associated Press initially reported that a single projectile was fired and did not identify it as a ballistic missile, but updated its story at around 1:20 a.m. ET on Wednesday, claiming with Yonhap that two ballistic missiles were drawn.
The Japanese Coast Guard said the two projectiles landed in international waters between Japan and the Korean Peninsula, the AP reported.
NORTH KOREA SAYS ‘STRATEGIC’ LONG-RANGE CRUISE MISSILES HAVE REACHED TEST TARGETS
According to the AP, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the North Korean projectile flew into waters on the east coast of the Korean Peninsula on Wednesday. He gave no further details.
Wednesday’s development follows reports on Monday of North Korean missile tests that took place over the weekend – tests that ended a year-long hiatus in the country’s projectile tests, a reported the AP.
People watch a TV screen showing a news program on North Korea’s long-range cruise missile testing with footage in Seoul, South Korea on Monday. (Associated press)
North Korea said Monday it tested a newly developed cruise missile twice over the weekend. North Korean state media described the missile as a “strategic weapon of great importance”, implying that they were developed with the intention of arming them with nuclear warheads.
Many experts say the North Korean test suggests that North Korea is pushing to bolster its arsenal of weapons amid a stalemate in nuclear diplomacy between Pyongyang and Washington.
The latest launch came as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was in Seoul for meetings with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and other senior officials to discuss the nuclear diplomacy standoff with the North.
Moon said the South Korean government plans to hold an unscheduled National Security Council meeting later Wednesday, the PA reported.
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Talks between the United States and North Korea have stalled since 2019, when the Americans rejected the North’s demand for major sanctions relief in exchange for dismantling an aging nuclear facility. Kim’s government has so far rejected the Biden administration’s overtures to dialogue, demanding that Washington first abandon its “hostile” policies.
The North’s resumption of testing activity is likely an attempt to pressure the Biden administration over the diplomatic freeze after Kim failed to leverage his arsenal for economic gain during Donald Trump’s presidency .
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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