North Korea re-launched several ballistic missiles on Thursday morning (local time). On Wednesday, the country fired the most rockets since Kim Jong-un came to power. The new missile tests have shocked Japan: the country has advised residents of some regions to temporarily hide indoors.
Japan initially thought a ballistic missile was a long-range ICBM. The country issued a warning that the weapon had flown over Japan, but Tokyo later denied that information.
“The missile in question has disappeared from the sight of the authorities somewhere above the Sea of Japan,” said the Japanese defense minister.
“North Korea’s repeated missile launches are a disgrace and absolutely inexcusable,” said Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
The day before, North Korea’s nuclear power fired another 23 missiles, the highest number since Kim Jong-un came to power. Among them was a ballistic missile, which landed in the sea about 57 kilometers from the South Korean city of Sokcho.
North Korea’s launches were in response to large-scale US and South Korean military exercises in the region, Pyongyang said. Isolated North Korea usually sees such exercises by South Koreans and Americans as preparations for an invasion. Washington and Seoul contradict this.
