North Korea fires two short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan, defense minister protests

[Seoul Current Affairs] According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the South Korean military, short-range ballistic missiles were launched into the Sea of ​​Japan from the Wonsan area of ​​Gangwon Province in eastern North Korea twice on the 20th, at around 3:00 p.m. (same Japan time) and at around 5:50 p.m. According to Japan's Ministry of Defense, both are estimated to have fallen outside Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

North Korea's firepower training; missile launch on the 12th was part of it?

According to the ministry, the first missile flew for about 440 km, with a maximum altitude of about 60 km. The second time, the maximum altitude was about 70 km, and the flight distance was about 590 km. No damage to ships or aircraft has been confirmed.

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters, ``The ballistic missile launch violates the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and is a serious issue concerning the safety of the people.'' It was announced that they had lodged a strong protest with North Korea through the embassy in Beijing.

In a statement on the 17th, North Korean General Affairs Minister Kim Yo Jong criticized the ``Pacific Vanguard'' joint exercise that the United States recently conducted with Japan, South Korea, and other countries around the island of Guam. He suggested that he would take countermeasures, saying that the situation in the region was worsening.

North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the Sea of ​​Japan on the 12th. The Korean Central News Agency reported that the Korean People's Army conducted a "joint firepower assault training" on the same day using various attack drones and strategic cruise missiles.