The missile landed in the sea off North Korea’s east coast.
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Despite United Nations resolutions prohibiting the country from developing nuclear and ballistic technology, North Korea has continued to launch missiles in the past few months. The characters read “Against a deployment of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense”. The THAAD system is incapable of Rodong and Scud missiles as the DPRK missiles fly at an altitude of 20-30 km, much lower than the altitude of 40-150 km at which THAAD interceptors shoot down missiles.
In the recent past, North Korea has boasted of having breakthroughs in its quest of having long range missiles.
The missile that landed in the Sea of Japan was launched at about 7.50 am Seoul time from a region in South Hwanghae province to the southwest of the capital, Pyongyang, South Korea’s Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
According to the U.S. Strategic Command, North Korea fired two ballistic missiles Wednesday morning local time – one of them landed close to Japan.
In July, North Korea fired three ballistic missiles into the sea, saying it was a simulated strike on the South.
Defense analysts said the use of Rodongs, which have a maximum range of just over 800 miles, appeared to be aimed at showing they could reach USA bases in Japan as well as targets in South Korea.
South Korea’s unification ministry strongly condemned North Korea for making the latest provocation, calling for an immediate halt to its missile launches.
US and South Korean officials insist the THAAD is necessary to guard against the growing threat from North Korea. Japan’s exclusive economic zone covers most of its ADIZ.
Continuing a general pattern since kicking off the year with a fourth ever nuclear test, the North attempted to launch the pair of presumed Rodong missiles shortly before 8 a.m. (23:00 GMT Tuesday).
U.S. Pacific Command confirmed the launch, which included a second missile. Ryol warned that all decisions concerning relations with the USA would be dealt with under wartime laws – including the detentions of the two American prisoners now being held in North Korea, Otto Warmbier and Kim Dong Chul. Since June, North Korea has been testing its mid-range missiles, testing a preemptive atomic attack scenario on South Korea.
South Korean military officials were analyzing what type of missile it was and how far it flew, according to Seoul’s Defense Ministry.
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The North’s provocation also came one day before the first anniversary of a land mine explosion near the inter-Korean border blamed on North Korea.
