North Korea launches third ballistic missile this year
(VOVWORLD) -North Korea on Tuesday test-fired a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile toward waters off its eastern coast, South Korea’s military said.
 A South Korean news channel on April 2 reported on North Korea's latest missile launch, using images from a previous test. (Photo: AP) |
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters on Tuesday that North Korea launched an object believed to be a ballistic missile, and – while no damage has been reported –the action posed a threat to the peace and safety not only of Japan, but the region. The missile could have fallen outside Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone at about 7 a.m.
Japan says it will collaborate with the US and South Korea to ensure national security and the safety of its people.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the military has increased its surveillance and vigilance in anticipation of further launches.
This was North Korea's third ballistic missile launch this year. On January 14, North Korea launched an intermediate-range solid-fuel ballistic missile carrying a hypersonic warhead. This recent launch occurred 15 days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected an exercise featuring super-large multiple rocket launchers in North Korea’s western region.