Japan considers the North Korean missile launches immediately after the visit of US President Joe Biden to Seoul and Tokyo, as well as the Quadripartite Security Dialogue (QUAD, participants are Australia, India, the USA and Japan) as a direct provocation, Japan considers. This was announced on Wednesday, May 25, by Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi.
Bloomed: what changes the test of the DPRK intercontinental missile
In a normal scenario, she could reach the East Coast of the United States
“This is an obvious provocation by North Korea. This is absolutely unacceptable,” he said.
In addition, according to the minister, Japan protested to the DPRK in connection with the missile launches. It was transmitted through diplomatic channels through the embassy in Beijing.
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Earlier Wednesday, North Korea launched three projectiles into the Sea of Japan. The launch took place a day after the end of the summit between South Korea and the United States and was the 17th launch of a ballistic missile by North Korea in 2022.
According to the South Korean military, the first, presumably, intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) flew about 360 km at a maximum altitude of 540 km, the flight altitude of the second ballistic missile was about 20 km.
The third projectile, presumably a short-range ballistic missile, flew about 760 km at a maximum flight altitude of 60 km.
South Korea and the United States fired two surface-to-surface missiles in response to another North Korean test.
North Korea made its previous test of a missile towards the Sea of Japan on May 7. Prior to this, on May 4, the DPRK launched a ballistic missile, the maximum altitude of its flight was about 800 km, and the distance reached about 500 km. It was reported that, presumably, the rocket fell outside the exclusive economic zone of Japan.
In April, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un vowed to destroy any force attacking the country, and also pledged to build up and strengthen the state’s nuclear capabilities “at the fastest pace.”
On March 25, Washington said that the UN Security Council should consider increasing sanctions pressure on North Korea in connection with the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. US Permanent Representative to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield expressed the opinion that the UN Security Council should “condemn with one voice” Pyongyang’s dangerous actions.