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North Korea has fired two ballistic missiles from the east coast and into the sea, Japan’s prime minister said.
Yoshihide Suga said the launches threaten “peace and security in Japan and the region” and that Tokyo will coordinate closely with Washington and Seoul on the North’s test activities.
North Korea Ballistic missiles are prohibited by United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
From South Korea The joint chiefs of staff said the US and South Korean armies were analyzing the launches, which they said were made around 7:06 am and 7:25 am local time from South Hamgyong province.
The launches could pose a challenge for United States President Joe Bidenwhose administration has yet to make any meaningful engagement with the nation.
The U.S. Army’s Pacific Command said they are monitoring the situation and consulting with allies.
The launch came a day after US and South Korean officials said North Korea had fired short-range weapons, allegedly cruise missiles, into its western sea over the weekend.
President Biden has not engaged to Kim Jong Un
South Korea’s Defense Ministry said North Korea’s short-range tests on Sunday were its first missile launches since April 2020.
Biden played down those pitches, telling reporters, “There is no new wrinkle in what they did.”
South Korea’s presidential office said it will hold an emergency meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the launches.
Nuclear negotiations between the United States and North Korea have stalled since the collapse of Kim Jong Un’s second summit with former President Donald Trump in February 2019.
Then US officials rejected North Korea’s demands for major sanctions relief, in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities.
Pyongyang has said it is refusing to hold talks with Biden unless Washington abandons “hostile” sanctions and pressure on its nuclear program.
Kim Yo Jong warned Washington about military exercises with South Korea. Photo: AP
Last week, Mr. Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong criticized the United States for organizing combined military exercises with South Korea.
In North Korea’s first comments to the Joe Biden administration, it described the drills as an invasion rehearsal and warned Washington to “refrain from causing a bad smell” if it wants to “sleep in peace” for the next four years.
In the past, Pyongyang has often responded to drills between the United States and South Korea with missile tests.
On a visit to Seoul last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and human rights record.
He pressured China to use its “tremendous influence” to convince the North to denuclearize.
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