South Korean officials announced that the missiles were launched from the Sunan region of Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, with an interval of less than one hour.
The Seoul administration commented that the missile test was a “serious provocation”.
Japan also confirmed the information from South Korea, announcing that it detected at least two missile launches.
Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said that the first missile traveled about 300 km after reaching an altitude of 550 km, while the second one reached a distance of about 750 km after ascending to an altitude of 50 km.
“The missile test is unacceptable,” said Person, adding that the test “constitutes a threat to the peace, stability and security of Japan and the international community.”
North Korea has conducted several ballistic missile tests this year. The last of the previous trials was on 12 May, when a state of emergency was declared in the country over the Covid epidemic.
BIDEN SAID ‘WE WILL TAKE HARDER MEASURES’
US President Joe Biden visited South Korea and Japan during his five-day Asian tour.
Joe Biden said during the trip that they would take more drastic measures against North Korea and said, “The United States is ready for anything North Korea can do.”
Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol agreed that the two countries should hold larger exercises and, if necessary, deploy more American troops in the region to deter North Korea.
The timing of this missile test is no accident.
During his trip to Asia, US President Joe Biden committed to increasing South Korea’s defense capacity. Intelligence services have said for weeks that North Korea is preparing for a major test while Biden is in the area. The trial took place after Biden’s visit, less provocatively. But only hours later… Before the plane carrying Biden has yet landed on American soil.
Biden and Yoon, who met in Seoul at the weekend, said they were ready to stand shoulder to shoulder against the North Korean threat. This will be their first exam. Together they responded swiftly by denouncing the tests and conducting their own joint missile tests.
Relations with North Korea, which has been more aggressive in the last six months, have become even more tense. But the real concern is what might happen next. Intelligence is mounting, indicating that North Korea is preparing to test nuclear weapons. If confirmed, it would be the first nuclear test by North Korea in five years and would mark a massive escalation in tensions.