North Korea fired at least two suspected ballistic missiles towards the sea off its eastern coast on Monday, prompting a strong protest from Japan over what it described as a threat to regional security.
Japan’s Ministry of Defense said the launches occurred after 9 a.m. local time, with both missiles believed to have landed near North Korea’s east coast and in the Sea of Japan. The first missile was launched at approximately 9:19 a.m. and reached an altitude of about 20 kilometres, travelling roughly 220 kilometres, according to Japanese officials.
A second missile followed at around 9:36 a.m. It reportedly reached an altitude of approximately 70 kilometres and travelled more than 910 kilometres. Japan’s defence ministry said the second missile might have followed an irregular trajectory. Japan, the United States and South Korea were conducting a joint analysis to determine its flight characteristics. There were no immediate reports of damage resulting from the launches.
Japan’s Vice Minister of Defense for Policy, Takashi Koyari, condemned the tests, describing North Korea’s actions as a threat to Japan, the surrounding region and the wider international community. Koyari said Tokyo had lodged a formal protest through its embassy channel in Beijing, expressing strong condemnation of the launches.
North Korea Steps Up Missile Tests
Monday’s launches add to a growing number of missile tests conducted by Pyongyang this year. Koyari said North Korea had carried out at least 11 test-launches involving approximately 18 ballistic missiles and other projectiles since the beginning of the year.
According to the Japanese official, the number of launches had already exceeded last year’s total by more than double, while the number of projectiles was approximately three times higher. The latest tests come amid continuing security tensions on the Korean Peninsula, where North Korea’s weapons development has repeatedly drawn criticism from Japan, South Korea and the United States.
The three countries have maintained security cooperation and information-sharing arrangements to monitor North Korea’s missile activities.
Japanese authorities said the latest launches were being closely assessed, particularly the possibility that the second missile had followed an unusual flight path. The launches underscore continuing concerns over North Korea’s expanding missile capabilities and the potential implications for regional stability.
