Japan, along with the United States and South Korea, condemned North Korea’s ballistic missile launches Wednesday, including one that landed in Japan’s exclusive economic zone, and pressed for a quick U.N. Security Council response.
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Two ballistic missiles were fired simultaneously on Wednesday, although one of the projectiles exploded immediately after launch, the South Korean Defence Ministry said.
But it failed to adopt a press statement back in July, … with China reportedly raising opposition to the draft statement in protest against the South Korea-U.S. decision to deploy the THAAD missile defense system to the Korean peninsula. It was the first time that a North Korean missile’s warhead has landed in Japan’s EEZ, which extends 200 nautical miles (about 370 km) from shore.
Japan’s Defense Minister Gen Nakatani (C) speaks to the media regarding North Korea’s missile launch, in Tokyo, Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo August 3, 2016. “This is an outrageous act that can not be tolerated”.
South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff, NATO’s secretary-general, and the US State Department all issued separate statements condemning North Korea’s latest launch.
Meanwhile, China, Pyongyang’s closest ally, said the defiant missile tests have expanded since the bilateral decision between Seoul and Washington to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to the region.
Japan and South Korea are both investing in improved ballistic missile defense systems.
The investigation could identify individuals and companies involved in North Korea’s missile programme who could face targeted sanctions including a global visa ban and assets freeze.
The United States, Japan and 10 other countries have meantime asked the UN sanctions committee to investigate the July 18 launch of three Scud ballistic missiles and a No Dong intermediate-range missile, according to a letter obtained by AFP.
Tensions are always high on the peninsula, but especially recently given Pyongyang’s long-range missile and nuclear tests earlier this year.
“If the new defense minister makes comments which trigger conflict with South Korea, it will complicate cooperation efforts”, said Japan analyst Hosaka Yuji with Sejong University in Seoul.
THAAD deployment would bring about the unexpected launches of nuclear weapons without “definite national origin” and bring about the “worst kind of fear and anxiety that tightens the chest”, according to KCNA. Almost 30,000 U.S. troops are permanently stationed in South Korea.
Since its fourth nuclear test, North Korea has claimed a series of technical breakthroughs for its weapons programme.
“If the allies can exercise their armed forces, so can the North”, he said.
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North Korea’s continual testing of ballistic missile technology after March has resulted in a UNSC meeting previously and a subsequent condemnation.
