SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korea fired two ballistic missiles into the waters off the east coast on Wednesday afternoon, two days after it claimed to have tested a newly developed missile in the resumption of its screens. weapons after a six-month hiatus.
South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said the missiles were launched from North Korea and the Japanese Coast Guard said it landed outside its exclusive economic zone in the waters between Japan and the mainland. Korea. Seoul said South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are analyzing more details about the launches and that the South had boosted its surveillance against North Korea.
“The shootings threaten the peace and security of Japan and the region and are absolutely outrageous,” said Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. “The government of Japan is determined to further intensify our vigilance and vigilance to be prepared for any unforeseen events.”
The Japanese Coast Guard said no ships or planes reported damage from the missiles.
North Korea said Monday it tested a newly developed cruise missile twice over the weekend. North Korea’s state media described the missile as a “strategic weapon of great importance,” implying that it was developed with the intent of carrying nuclear warheads. According to North Korean reports, the missile flew about 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) away from all Japanese and US military installations.
Many experts say weekend tests suggested North Korea is pushing to bolster its weapons arsenal at a standstill in nuclear diplomacy between Pyongyang and Washington.
Wednesday’s launches 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 stalled nuclear talks with the United States. North.
It is rare for North Korea to make provocative launches when China, its last major ally and largest aid provider, participates in a major diplomatic event.
Moon’s office said Moon told Wang that he appreciates China’s role in the international diplomatic push to resolve the North Korean nuclear confrontation and that he called for Beijing’s continued support.
Wang said Beijing will continue to support the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and the improvement of ties between the Koreans, and also called for further development of relations with Seoul.
Moon’s office said the government plans to hold an unplanned meeting of the national security council later Wednesday.
Talks between the United States and North Korea have stalled since 2019, when Americans rejected the U.S. demand for sanctions relief in exchange for dismantling an aging nuclear facility. So far, the Kim government has threatened to build high-tech weapons aimed at the United States and has rejected the Biden administration’s openings for dialogue, demanding that Washington first abandon its “hostile” policies.
North Korea ended a one-year break in ballistic testing in March by firing two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea, continuing the tradition of testing new U.S. administrations with demonstrations of weapons aimed at measuring Washington’s response and obtaining concessions.
North Korea still maintains a self-imposed moratorium on long-range nuclear missile testing, a signal it may not want to set aside nuclear negotiations with the United States.
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Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report.