North Korea launched this Thursday an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that has impacted the Sea of Japan150 kilometers from Hokkaido (northern Japan), as reported by the Japanese Ministry of Defense. It is the first time North Korea has launched such a powerful missile since 2017.
The missile has hit the Exclusive Economic Zone of Japan, which is a “breach of suspension of the launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles promised by Kim Jong Un to the international community”, assured the president of South Korea, Moon Jae-in.
“An extremely troublesome and dangerous act”
For his part, Japanese Deputy Defense Minister Makoto Oniki has pointed out that Pyongyang’s move is “a serious threat to the security of Japan and since (the launch) was not reported even though it fell into EEZ waters, it is an extremely problematic act and dangerous for the integrity of ships or aircraftThus, Japan strongly condemns the launch of the missile.
The missile impacted around 3:44 p.m. local time, traveling a distance of 1,100 kilometers, it flew for 71 minutes and reached a maximum height of 6,000 km, according to Oniki, who said it is “much higher” than Pyongyang’s last ICBM launch in 2017.
Japan’s Defense Ministry’s announcement on North Korea’s latest ICBM.
– Flight of 71 minutes
– More than 6000 km altitude
-About 1100km range
– It fell inside Japan’s EEZ, which is 150 km west of the Oshima Peninsula (渡島半島), or the southernmost part of Hokkaidō https://t.co/RvmjbvKOo8 pic.twitter.com/lLY9o3UNuh— 🇺🇦高橋浩祐(たかはし こうすけ)Takahashi Kosuke 🇯🇵 (@KosukeGoto2013) March 24, 2022
This test assumes the end of the moratorium that the regime self-imposed with respect to ICBM launches in order to bring positions closer together before the first summit held in 2018 between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and then US President Donald Trump.
“Absolutely inexcusable”
“At a time when the world is grappling with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, North Korea is pressing forward with launches that unilaterally aggravate provocations against the international community, which is absolutely inexcusable,” Oniki said, noting that the ministry received no reports of damage to ships or aircraft.
It is common for North Korea to test its missiles, but it is not so common for it to get close to Japan. South Korea, Japan and the United States have already condemned the launches of ballistic missiles, frequent in recent months: according to Reuters, this Thursday’s missile is the thirteenth launched by Pyongyang in 2022. According to The Japan Timesthe missile is expected this Thursday “dramatically increase tensions” in the region.
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