North Korea launches ballistic missiles, South Korea and Japan watch closely
Apr 02, 2024
Pyongyang [North Korea], April 2: Yonhap news agency on April 2, citing information from the South Korean military, said that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea appears to have just launched a medium-range ballistic missile into the eastern sea of the Korean peninsula, the third launch of a ballistic missile this year.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) detected a missile launched from the Pyongyang area at 6:53 a.m. (local time), but did not give details.
"Our military has increased surveillance and vigilance to prepare for the possibility of further launches. We are maintaining a full posture of readiness, while sharing information related to the missile launch." North Korea's ballistic missiles with the US and Japan," according to JCS.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense said North Korea's ballistic missile fell into waters outside Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The latest ballistic missile launch took place 15 days after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un directed an exercise involving super-large multiple rocket launchers in the western region of the country.
The South Korean military said North Korea's rockets flew about 300 km, which could put most of South Korea within range. Pyongyang claims that tactical nuclear warheads can be mounted on this weapon.
The launch on April 2 marked North Korea's third ballistic missile launch this year. On January 14, North Korea tested a solid-fuel medium-range ballistic missile carrying a hypersonic warhead. On March 18, North Korea continued to test-fire at least six short-range ballistic missiles.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
