Pictured: Missiles are displayed during a military parade to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the North Korean army, at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea February 8, 2023. (via REUTERS/KCNA)
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – North Korea fired long-range ballistic missile into the sea off Japan’s west coast on Saturday, February 18, 2023, after Pyongyang warned of a strong response to upcoming US-South Korea military drills.
Only, as reported by Reuters, pJapanese authorities say the weapon fell in Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) waters more than an hour after it was launched. However, there were no reports of damage to ships or aircraft.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Japan strongly condemned the launch and lodged a strong protest, calling it a threat to the international community.
Mentioned, the weapon is one of North Korea’s largest missiles.
According to the South Korean military, the long-range missile was launched from the Sunan area near Pyongyang. Sunan is on the territory of Pyongyang International Airport, where North Korea conducted most of its recent ICBM or intercontinental ballistic missile tests.
North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs are banned under UN Security Council resolutions, but Pyongyang says its weapons development is necessary to counter Washington’s and its allies’ “policy of hostility.”
On the other hand, an allied nuclear exercise, called the Countermeasures Strategy Committee Tabletop Exercise, is scheduled to be held on Wednesday at the Pentagon and will involve senior defense policy makers from both sides, Seoul’s defense ministry said.
The two countries also plan an expanded series of field exercises, including live-fire drills, in the coming months.
(dce)
