SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korea on Monday fired three medium-range missiles that traveled about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and landed near Japan in an apparent show of force timed to coincide with the Group of 20 economic summit in China, South Korean officials said.
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The submarine-launched ballistic missile flew some 500 km eastward, falling inside Japan’s air defense identification zone for the first time.
North Korea has conducted a series of missile tests during 2016 in defiance of United Nations sanctions imposed after its fourth nuclear test in January.
The meeting will be held on Tuesday morning.
The United States condemned the missile tests, describing them as “reckless”.
The sabre-rattling follows the North’s submarine-launched ballistic missile test some two weeks ago.
Obama signaled the USA would redouble its effort to choke off North Korea’s access to global currency and technology by tightening loopholes in the current sanctions regime.
On Sunday, the Blue House announced that President Park Geun Hye and Chinese President Xi Jinping will have bilateral talks on the sideline of the G-20 Summit in China.
After the formal announcement of the South Korean government that it will deploy a THAAD system in the country, China and Russian Federation have shown concerns that the system will be used to spy on them. The launches have many North Korea watchers in Seoul concerned by the regime’s advancing nuclear capabilities as its missile range becomes longer and its aim more precise.
Also noting that Monday’s “reckless” missile launches threaten civil aviation and maritime commerce in the region, he said Washington will raise those concerns at the East Asia Summit starting in Laos on Tuesday to “bolster global resolve” to hold Pyongyang accountable for its provocative actions.
North Korea fired three ballistic missiles off its east coast yesterday in a defiant reminder of the risks to global security, as world leaders including US President Barack Obama gathered at a G20 summit in China for the second day.
She also stressed that her country should react to the constantly repeated missile launches by North Korea.
North Korea’s state-run news agency said Kim was informed about the details of the planned drill, then ordered the commander of the Strategic Force to begin.
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“We are fully prepared to fight tonight in case North Korea makes any provocative moves”, the statement said, according to the Yonhap News Agency, using the catchphrase of the American and South Korean military allies.
