North Korea fired several short-range missiles into the waters off its east coast Monday, Yonhap news agency reported. However, thanks to the North Korean leader’s strutting, the two governments have been able to more accurately identify the nation’s military capabilities.
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South Korea did not confirm the type of missile but United States officials said they were medium-range ballistic missiles. He said South Korea did not retrieve missile parts after the North’s 2014 launches.
She said: “We hope North Korea does not do anything to contravene UN Security Council resolutions”.
In response to North Korea’s nuclear testing and other incidents, the U.N. Security Council early this month adopted a resolution anew that bans the country from firing ballistic missiles.
A military source predicted that North Korea could also conduct test launches for its Musudan and KN-08 missiles.
“Japan strongly demands North Korea to exercise self-restraint and will take all necessary measures, such as warning and surveillance activity, to be able to respond to any situations”, Abe said.
Experts say a militarized version of the rocket the North used to put its second satellite into orbit in February would potentially have the range to reach the US mainland.
The continued provocations come at a time when the United States and South Korea are conducting the largest joint drill in history, with 300,000 South Korean troops and 17,000 USA soldiers. The launches also alarmed key US allies in the region.
Friday’s launch follows Kim’s recent order for tests of a nuclear warhead and ballistic missiles capable of carrying atomic warheads.
But the usual tensions between these rival neighbors deteriorated sharply after North Korea claimed to have detonated its first hydrogen bomb last January – a claim the White House was skeptical of.
It is not unusual for North Korea to launch projectiles during the U.S.-South Korean military drills.
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It can be remembered that two weeks ago, the UN Security Council gave its toughest sanctions to North Korea after Pyongyang continued with their fourth nuclear test and masked a rocket launch as a normal ballistic missile test.
