North Korea has fired two ballistic missiles just days after the country said it had tested a new missile, representing a return to weapons display that had been on hold for six months, according to The Associated Press.
How South Korea, Japan, US reacted to North Korea missle launch
- South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were launched from the middle of North Korea.
- Japan’s coast guard said the two ballistic missiles landed outside an exclusive economic zone between Japan and the Korean Peninsula.
Officials from the United States, South Korea and Japan are still investigating what happened.
- “The firings threaten the peace and safety of Japan and the region and are absolutely outrageous,” Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said, per The Associated Press. “The government of Japan is determined to further step up our vigilance and surveillance to be prepared for any contingencies.”
North Korea hosts military parade without missiles
North Korea had said on Monday that it tested a new cruise missile twice over the weekend, per The Associated Press.
North Korea has been making headlines in recent weeks after the country went into a heavy lockdown during the pandemic. According to The Washington Post. North Korea had closed its borders throughout the pandemic, stopping itself from being trade partners with China during that time.
Most recently, North Korea hosted a military parade that showed military members wearing hazmat suits and gas masks, as I wrote for the Deseret News. The parade was meant to honor the country’s 73rd anniversary. However, there were no missiles on display during the parade.