North Korea Launches Ballistic Missile, Falls Outside Japan's EEZ
North Korea launched a ballistic missile towards the east on Wednesday morning, and it is believed to have fallen outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), according to Japan’s Ministry of Defence.
The missile was launched at approximately 5.59 a.m. local time from an area near North Korea’s east coast and travelled around 690 km, reaching a maximum altitude of about 90 km, the ministry said in a statement.
There have been no reports of damage or injuries resulting from the launch, the ministry said, adding that Japan, the United States and South Korea are coordinating closely in analysing the launch.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed relevant government agencies to make every effort to gather and analyse information, provide timely and accurate updates to the public, and ensure the safety of aircraft and vessels.
Responding to the missile launch, Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Japan has lodged a strong protest with North Korea.
“North Korea’s ballistic missile launch violates United Nations Security Council resolutions. North Korea’s actions threaten the peace and security of Japan, the region and the international community,” Koizumi said.
North Korea also launched a ballistic missile on Thursday last week towards the Sea of Japan, but that missile did not fall within Japan’s EEZ, according to the ministry’s statement at the time.
The missile launch by North Korea comes amid preparations by the US and South Korea to hold their regular joint military exercise “Ulchi Freedom Shield” at the end of August.
Meanwhile, Japan, together with the US and 39 other countries, issued a joint statement on Tuesday, Washington time, stating that parties intending to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles or space launch vehicles must provide notification at least 24 hours in advance.
The statement did not specifically name any country. However, the joint statement was released after China conducted a test firing of a strategic missile carrying a dummy warhead from a nuclear-powered submarine into international waters in the Pacific Ocean on 6 July.
“Recent missile test activities in the Pacific region have not followed the standard practices adopted by most countries in providing notification and preventing collisions related to ICBM, SLBM and SLV launches,” the joint statement read.
The statement warned that ballistic missile tests capable of carrying nuclear warheads, conducted without adequate prior notification and without sufficient detail, are “dangerous” and “disrupt global stability and security”.