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North Korea launches six missiles towards Japan

Following North Korea's launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile at Japan, the U.S. and South Korea have decided to continue indefinitely with their military maneuvers.

Pruebas balísticas Corea del Norte

(Archivo / Cordon Press)

Published by
Rosana Rábago Sainz

North Korea continues to launch missiles. Just twenty-four hours after launching 23 missiles into the sea near South Korea, North Korean authorities launched at least six more missiles, this time directed towards the area near the Japanese coast.

Among the projectiles was also an ICBM, an intercontinental ballistic missile, South Korea's Chief of Public Affairs in Joint Chief of Staff Kim Joon-rak said in remarks reported by Reuters during a conference in Seoul:

This morning, our military detected the firing of one long-range ballistic missile from Sunan area in Pyongyang toward East Sea, and two short-range ballistic missiles from Kaechon in South Pyongan Province toward the East Sea.

According to what a South Korean government source told to CNN, North Korea's test launch of the Hwasong-17, its most powerful missile, ended in failure.

However, the tests continued. A few hours after the launch of three missiles was detected, the Yonhap News Agency reported the launch of a fourth missile. This missile was unidentified, but it had a clear trajectory: also in the direction of the East Sea. Currently, the agency reports, the "army is analyzing data from the missile" launched on Thursday, Nov. 3.

Hours later, the same agency reported the launch of two more short-range missiles, this time destined for the Yellow Sea.

The federal government responds

The U.S. responded promptly. The White House and the State Department condemned North Korea's actions just minutes after the launches.

The federal government did so through a statement sent by National Security Council Spokeswoman Adrienne Watson, in which she sanctioned North Korea's actions:

The United States strongly condemns the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) dangerous and reckless decision to launch a long-range ballistic missile over Japan. This action is destabilizing and shows the DPRK’s blatant disregard for United Nations Security Council resolutions and international safety norms.

State Department Spokesman Ned Price also added his voice to the criticism of North Korea. In his press release, he wanted to make it clear that the United States condemns these actions:

The United States condemns the DPRK’s intercontinental ballistic missile launch. This launch is a clear violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions and demonstrates the threat the DPRK’s unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs pose to its neighbors, the region, international peace and security, and the global non-proliferation regime.

U.S. and South Korea will continue military maneuvers

As confirmed by Adrienne Watson in the statement issued by the White House, North Korea's actions will not go unnoticed. The statement reported that National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was in talks with his counterparts in Japan and the Republic of Korea to coordinate a response:

National Security Advisors consulted on appropriate and robust joint and international responses and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan reinforced the United States’ ironclad commitments to the defense of Japan and the ROK. The United States will continue its efforts to limit the DPRK’s ability to advance its prohibited ballistic missile and weapons of mass destruction programs, including with allies and UN partners.

The UN was also alluded to by Price, who called for all member countries to get involved in the matter:

 This action underscores the need for all countries to fully implement DPRK related UN Security Council resolutions, which are intended to prohibit the DPRK from acquiring the technologies and materials needed to carry out these destabilizing tests. Together, with the international community, we call on the DPRK to refrain from further provocations and engage in sustained and substantive dialogue. Our commitments to the defense of the Republic of Korea and Japan remain ironclad.

Meanwhile, the South Korean Air Force confirmed to the Yonhap News Agency that they will continue with the military maneuvers that they are carrying out jointly with the United States. The operation, called Vigilant Storm, began on Oct. 31 and was scheduled to end on Nov. 4. However, since North Korea's recent launches, the U.S. and South Korea have agreed to continue the operation indefinitely.

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