SEOUL: North Korea launched two projectiles off its eastern coast on Sunday, including a short-range ballistic missile, marking its second round of missile tests in about a week amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea’s defence ministry said the first launch was detected from the Wonsan area at around 3pm local time, with the weapon identified as a short-range ballistic missile. About three hours later, Pyongyang launched another unidentified projectile.
If confirmed as a ballistic missile, the second launch would mean North Korea conducted two ballistic missile tests within a three-hour period.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the first missile travelled about 450 kilometres (280 miles) and was believed to be from the Hwasong-11 series. Japan’s defence ministry also assessed the projectile as a ballistic missile.
Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported that the projectile fell outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. Details about the flight path and characteristics of the second projectile were not immediately available.
“South Korean and US intelligence authorities have been tracking and sharing related developments from the initial stage of the launch,” South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said, adding that information about the ballistic missile had also been shared with Japan.
South Korea’s National Security Council condemned the launch and called on Pyongyang to immediately halt its missile activities. Seoul said the test violated UN Security Council resolutions prohibiting North Korea from conducting ballistic missile launches.
Japan also condemned the launch, with Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi saying the series of North Korean actions threatened the peace and security of Japan, the region and the wider international community.
The latest launches followed a North Korean missile test on September 12.
Tensions have also risen over recent military exercises involving the United States, South Korea and Japan. Pyongyang has repeatedly criticised the drills, describing them as provocative and accusing Washington and its allies of worsening tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
Last week, North Korea condemned a US-led naval exercise involving South Korea and Japan that was held near Guam from August 29 to September 10.
Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said on Friday that US-led military drills were contributing to “ever-worsening” tensions and reiterated Pyongyang’s intention to continue strengthening its nuclear capabilities.
North Korea also rejected a recent resolution by the UN nuclear watchdog concerning its nuclear programme, maintaining its opposition to international pressure over its weapons development.
The latest missile launches are expected to further raise tensions in the region as South Korea, Japan and the United States continue monitoring North Korea’s weapons activities.