North Korea launched a missile towards the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, this Thursday, after criticizing Tokyo’s “militaristic” drift in response to recent Japanese military maneuvers and joint exercises with Seoul last June.
Japan’s Ministry of Defense reported on social media that they are “analyzing the details” of the launch “in close coordination with the United States and South Korea,” urging its forces to be prepared “for any unforeseen contingency.”
“It is estimated that the missile fell near the eastern coast of the Korean peninsula; it has not been confirmed that the missile entered Japanese territory or its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and so far, no reports of damage to aircraft or vessels operating in the area have been received,” it added.
Meanwhile, South Korean systems detected the launch around 5:00 p.m. (local time) from the coastal area of Wonsan, a port city and naval base that serves as the capital of North Korea’s Kangwon province, according to the Yonhap news agency.
“While we strengthen surveillance and monitoring against possible additional launches, our Army maintains a posture of full readiness and closely shares relevant information with the United States and Japan,” stated the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
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Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, recently stated that North Korea will not tolerate Japan’s “militaristic” drift due to recent tests of long-range Tomahawk missile launches in Pacific waters, which she called a “serious threat that destroys global peace and security.”
Her warnings respond to the late July maneuvers launched by Japan with the first-ever launch of anti-ship missiles, with a range of nearly 1,000 kilometers, marking the start of a military phase and representing a significant shift in Japan’s security policy.
The Armed Forces of Japan and South Korea also carried out their first military training maneuvers in nearly nine years in early June, a key sign of rapprochement between the armies of the two neighboring countries.
Additionally, this latest launch comes more than a month after Pyongyang conducted a test of a tactical ballistic missile, as well as new multiple rocket launchers and other weapons, on June 25, under the supervision of the North Korean leader.
