Japan: "One North Korean Ballistic Missile Likely Fell Outside EEZ... Flew 650 km"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The Japanese government announced on the 14th that North Korea fired one short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) into the East Sea, according to NHK and other broadcasters.

According to the report, Japan's Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu stated that the missile was launched around 1:47 a.m. and appeared to have fallen outside the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The missile's altitude was 50 km, and its flight distance was approximately 650 km, with the possibility that it flew on an irregular trajectory.

NHK reported that no damage to ships or aircraft has been reported due to North Korea's missile launch.

Defense Minister Hamada described North Korea's missile launch as "completely unacceptable." Regarding North Korea's intent, he said, "It is difficult to answer definitively, but North Korea claims it needs an independent nuclear deterrent to maintain its regime against threats from the United States. From this perspective, it is judged that they are focusing on developing and improving the operational capabilities of ballistic missiles, which are delivery systems for nuclear weapons."

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile around 1:49 a.m. from an area near Pyongyang. The Joint Chiefs stated that North Korea launched the ballistic missile shortly after about 10 military aircraft conducted threatening flights south of the tactical control line from around 10:30 p.m. on the 13th to about 12:20 a.m. on the 14th.

North Korea has conducted seven ballistic missile launches from the 25th of last month to the 9th of this month, announcing on the 10th that these launches were "tactical nuclear operational unit training" led by State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, and has resumed provocations. On the 12th, it fired a long-range strategic cruise missile from the Kaechon area in South Pyongan Province toward the West Sea.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.