Since 1975
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • Home
  • Japan
  • North Korea fires ballistic missile into Sea of Japan

North Korea fires ballistic missile into Sea of Japan

This picture taken on October 11, 2021 and released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on October 12 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) speaks in front of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) displayed during the defence development exhibition
This picture taken on October 11, 2021 and released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on October 12 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) speaks in front of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) displayed during the defence development exhibition "Self-Defence-2021" at the Three-Revolution Exhibition House in Pyongyang. (AFP)
Short Url:
19 Oct 2021 12:10:46 GMT9
19 Oct 2021 12:10:46 GMT9

SEOUL: North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan on Tuesday, the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the South Korean military said.

The missile, suspected to be a submarine-launched ballistic missile, was fired from waters off the city of Sinpho in South Hamgyong Province in eastern North Korea, according to the South Korean military. It flew some 590 kilometers while reaching an altitude of some 60 kilometers.

North Korea is constructing a new type of submarine at a shipyard in Sinpho. Observers said that the missile may have been the country’s first SLBM actually fired from a submarine. North Korea last fired an SLBM in October 2019.

Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that North Korea launched two ballistic missiles Tuesday.

“It’s regrettable that North Korea has been successively firing missiles,” Kishida told reporters in the northeastern Japan city of Fukushima, where he delivered his first stump speech since the official campaign period for the Oct. 31 general election started earlier on Tuesday.

The Japanese government lodged a strong protest to North Korea over the latest missile firing.

“We must continue our efforts to monitor the situation and collect information,” Kishida said.

On the latest missile launch coming on the first day of the campaign period for the House of Representatives election in Japan, the prime minister said, “I’ll refrain from prejudging the intent of North Korea.”

Kishida decided to cut short his election speech schedules for the day and return to the prime minister’s office in Tokyo to respond to the missile firing.

He instructed government officials to provide accurate information to the public promptly, secure the safety of aircraft and ships, and take all possible measures to prepare for contingencies.

Japan’s Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihiko Isozaki said that North Korea fired one of the two missiles at around 10:15 a.m. (1:15 a.m. GMT) and the other at around 10:16 a.m. He said the two missiles, both fired toward the east, are projected to have fallen into the Sea of Japan.

As North Korea is banned from firing ballistic missiles under U.N. Security Council resolutions, the council is expected to hold an emergency meeting to discuss its response to Tuesday’s missile launch.

Since September, North Korea has been test-firing multiple missiles, including a new long-range cruise missile, a short-range ballistic missile and a hypersonic missile called Hwasong-8.

At a military exhibition that opened in Pyongyang on Oct. 11, North Korea showcased an intercontinental ballistic missile and new-type missiles. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to strengthen the country’s military power.

A new missile assumed to be an SLBM was also displayed at the event. It might be the same type as the missile launched Tuesday.

Experts said North Korea’s latest launch may have come in protest against South Korea’s test-firing of an SLBM from a submarine in September.

After Tuesday’s missile firing, the South Korean government’s national security council held an emergency meeting, expressing regret at the launch.

Meanwhile, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and Japanese Director of Cabinet Intelligence Hiroaki Takizawa, currently visiting South Korea, held a trilateral meeting with Park Jie-won, chief of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, on Tuesday to discuss North Korean issues.

JIJI Press

Most Popular
Recommended

return to top