North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile, No Damage Confirmed in Japan

Tokyo (ANTARA) - North Korea fired at least one ballistic missile on Thursday, and the projectile is not believed to have fallen within Japan’s exclusive economic zone, with no reports of damage to ships or aircraft, the Japanese Defence Ministry said.

According to the ministry, the missile was launched around 5:02 p.m. and is estimated to have fallen off North Korea’s east coast.

South Korea’s military separately stated it had detected the launch of a short-range ballistic missile from the Wonsan area on North Korea’s east coast.

Tokyo lodged a stern protest with Pyongyang over the latest missile test, the ministry said, calling it a threat to the peace and security of Japan, the region, and the international community, as well as a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported that the North fired the missile ahead of the regular “Ulchi Freedom Shield” joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea, which are expected to take place this month.

North Korea, which has been advancing its nuclear capabilities, has reacted sharply to the large-scale US-South Korea military drills, viewing them as “preparations for an invasion.”

In late June, the country’s leader, Kim Jong Un, oversaw the testing of several key weapons, including a multiple rocket launch system and a tactical ballistic missile warhead, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

On 26 May, North Korea launched several projectiles, including short-range ballistic missiles, off its west coast, according to the South Korean military.