South Korea’s military said North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Sunday, December 18, toward the east coast of the Korean peninsula.
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South Korea’s military said North Korea fired two ballistic missiles into the sea off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula on Sunday.
Japan’s Deputy Defense Minister Toshiro Ino said that the ballistic missiles fired by North Korea appeared to have landed outside Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
According to the Japanese Defense Ministry, the missiles flew to an altitude of 550 kilometers (342 mi) and covered a distance of 250 kilometers (53 mi).
Ino said so far there were no reports of damage from the missiles.
The North’s missile launch comes just days after the country’s Tested a high-thrust solid-fuel engine That would allow faster and more mobile launches of ballistic missiles, experts said, as it seeks to develop a new strategic weapon and ramp up its nuclear and missile programmes.
The test, overseen by leader Kim Jong Un, was conducted Thursday at North Korea’s Sohae Satellite Launching Ground, which is used to test missile technologies including rocket engines and space launch vehicles, the official KCNA news agency reported on Friday. has been done.
North Korea has conducted an unprecedented number of missile tests this year, including an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the US mainland despite international sanctions and sanctions.
North Korea in November ICMB tested That Japanese officials said the United States had enough range to reach the mainland and landed just 200 kilometers (130 mi) from Japan.
Japan unveiled it on Friday largest military construction With the $320 billion plan since World War II to buy missiles capable of striking China and prepare it for continued conflict.