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▼ North Korea Fires 2 Ballistic Missiles, No Damage Reported: Japan Gov't
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North Korea launched at least two ballistic missiles eastward on Sunday that apparently fell outside Japan's exclusive economic zone, with no damage to ships or aircraft reported, according to the Japanese government, in the first such missile activity in almost two months.
The launches came hours before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung left for a four-day visit to China, where he is scheduled to hold summit talks on Monday with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
During their talks in Beijing, the two are expected to discuss issues including North Korea's nuclear activities.
The missiles were launched from North Korea's west coast at around 7:54 a.m. and 8:05 a.m., with both reaching a maximum altitude of around 50 kilometers and flying about 900 km and 950 km, respectively, the Defense Ministry said.
The South Korean military, meanwhile, said that North Korea launched "several" suspected ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan at around 7:50 a.m. from near Pyongyang that flew around 900 km.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters at his ministry that Tokyo has strongly protested to Pyongyang over the launch, saying the nation's actions, including previous missile launches, "threaten the peace and security" of Japan, the region and the international community.
The two projectiles may have flown on irregular trajectories, Koizumi said, adding that Japan will "closely collaborate" with the United States and South Korea in analyzing the details of the latest missile launches.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed officials to gather information and swiftly provide necessary details to the public while ensuring the safety of vessels and planes and preparing for contingencies, her office said.
North Korea last fired a ballistic missile on Nov. 7, which Japan's Defense Ministry said was launched eastward from North Korea's west coast and flew over 450 km. The South Korean military has said it flew about 700 km.
The launches came hours before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung left for a four-day visit to China, where he is scheduled to hold summit talks on Monday with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
During their talks in Beijing, the two are expected to discuss issues including North Korea's nuclear activities.
The missiles were launched from North Korea's west coast at around 7:54 a.m. and 8:05 a.m., with both reaching a maximum altitude of around 50 kilometers and flying about 900 km and 950 km, respectively, the Defense Ministry said.
The South Korean military, meanwhile, said that North Korea launched "several" suspected ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan at around 7:50 a.m. from near Pyongyang that flew around 900 km.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters at his ministry that Tokyo has strongly protested to Pyongyang over the launch, saying the nation's actions, including previous missile launches, "threaten the peace and security" of Japan, the region and the international community.
The two projectiles may have flown on irregular trajectories, Koizumi said, adding that Japan will "closely collaborate" with the United States and South Korea in analyzing the details of the latest missile launches.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed officials to gather information and swiftly provide necessary details to the public while ensuring the safety of vessels and planes and preparing for contingencies, her office said.
North Korea last fired a ballistic missile on Nov. 7, which Japan's Defense Ministry said was launched eastward from North Korea's west coast and flew over 450 km. The South Korean military has said it flew about 700 km.
- 4/1 20:12
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