The Wednesday launch is reportedly the first time that the main body of a North Korean missile landed within Japan’s economic exclusion zone, roughly 200 miles nautical miles from its shoreline.
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According to the South Korean and Japanese announcements, one suspected Rodong missile lifted off from the North’s western Hwanghae province and flew across the country before falling in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a “grave threat” and “an outrageous act that can not be tolerated”.
Japan’s U.N. Ambassador Koro Bessho said he wants to make clear to the council that “shooting a missile at us – it fell short, but it is a major threat to our national security”.
Dr Lee Seong Hyon of the Sejong Institute think-tank noted that the missile was launched from North Korea’s west coast, and that, if fired from its usual test site in the east coast, could have hit Japan.
North Korea is seeking to develop a warhead small enough to be placed on a long-rang missile that can reach the continental United States.
North Korea fired a ballistic missile off Japanese waters following South Korea’s plan to deploy American anti-missile system.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said he was “deeply troubled” by the test. A UN spokesman urged North Korea “to reverse its course and return to the process of honest dialogue”.
North Korea came under the latest round of U.N. Security Council sanctions in March after its fourth nuclear test in January and the launch of a long-range rocket the following month.
Both missiles were were launched simultaneously according to a statement from Stratcom, which said the missiles did “not post a threat to North Korea”.
The UNSC’s blunt statement called some three failed launches of intermediate-range missile ballistic missiles, beginning in mid-April, “deplorable”.
The North has ceaselessly developed its nuclear and missile programs by launching more than 30 ballistic missiles so far this year.
Wednesday’s launch comes weeks after the United States and South Korea chose to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system on the Korean peninsula, a decision that drew sharp criticism from North Korea. The Rodong has a range of 1,300 kilometers.
“We remain prepared to defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation”, he added. The missile test is speculated to be in response to South Korean President Park Geun-Hye’s decision to install an American anti-missile defense system.
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The United States will begin large-scale annual drills with its ally South Korea later this month that it bills as defensive in nature and not provocative.
