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North Korean missiles fall near Japan; South Korea, Japan on alert
The projectiles, launched off the North Korean east coast, are believed to have fallen outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone
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North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles off its east coast on Sunday, Seoul’s military said, its first launch of the year just hours before South Korea’s leader heads to China for a summit.
Sunday’s launch follows a US military operation against Pyongyang’s socialist ally Venezuela that snatched President Nicolas Maduro out of his country – for decades a nightmare scenario for North Korea’s leadership, which has long accused Washington of seeking to remove it from power.
Seoul’s defence ministry said it had detected “several projectiles, presumed to be ballistic missiles” fired from near the North Korean capital Pyongyang around 7.50am.
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“The military is maintaining a full readiness posture, having strengthened surveillance and vigilance against possible additional launches,” it said.
The Japan Coast Guard said North Korea launched two suspected ballistic missiles, which a government source said are believed to have fallen outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone with no immediate report of damage to ships or planes.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed officials to gather information and swiftly provide necessary details to the public while ensuring the safety of aircraft and ships and preparing for contingencies, her office said.
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