Despite international criticism, North Korea has been carrying out missile tests at an unusually high frequency since the end of September. Now the largely isolated country is once again firing three missiles. A missile disappears from radar over the Sea of Japan. Why, that has yet to be clarified.
According to Japanese information, North Korea has again tested three ballistic missiles, one of which disappeared from radar over the Japan Sea. This was announced by the government in Tokyo. She corrected initial statements that the first North Korean missile had flown over Japan again. There has been no damage in Japan from the missiles. Residents in some northeastern and central Japan prefectures had previously been asked to remain in their homes for safety.
Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said the first missile was fired at around 7:40 a.m. local time. The potential trajectory could have sent the missile flying over Japan. But she disappeared from the radar over the Japan Sea. The reason for the disappearance from the radar is still under investigation, it said. On October 4, a North Korean missile flew over Japan.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called North Korea's repeated missile tests "unacceptable". Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is currently in Japan and wants to fly to Seoul on Thursday.
Despite international criticism, North Korea has been carrying out missile tests at an unusually high frequency since the end of September. According to the South Korean military, the country had fired more than 20 rockets on the east and west coasts throughout the day on Wednesday. South Korea's military responded accordingly and, according to its own statements, fired three air-to-surface missiles from fighter jets into the open sea north of the border line.
The new North Korean missile tests were seen in South Korea in response to the largest air force exercise by South Korean and US forces in several years. North Korea had accused the two countries of "reckless" military provocations and threatened countermeasures. The multi-day exercises in South Korea will continue until Friday.
