North Korea escalates tensions with second launch of short-range missile

• The Joint Chiefs of Staff of the South Korean Armed Forces reported that the missiles had traveled a distance of about 400 kilometers to the northeast.
• The Japanese Coast Guard reported another missile launch from North Korea.
• South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol called on Pyongyang to stop all provocations.

On Wednesday, North Korea fired several short-range missiles toward its east coast, according to South Korea and Japan. The launch followed Pyongyang's recent opening of a uranium enrichment facility and its pledge to strengthen its nuclear arsenal.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported that North Korea fired rockets from Kaechon, north of the capital Pyongyang, at around 6:50 a.m. (Tuesday 21:50 GMT). The rockets flew about 400 km northeast. The JCS did not provide details on the number of rockets fired or where they landed.

“We strongly condemn North Korea's missile launch as a clear provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean peninsula,” said a statement from the JCS, which vowed an overwhelming response to any further provocations.

About 30 minutes after the first missile launch, the Japanese coast guard reported that North Korea had fired another ballistic missile. Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said at least one missile had landed near North Korea's east coast and condemned the launches, saying they “cannot be tolerated.”

The office of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol called a meeting to assess the security situation and called on Pyongyang to stop all provocations, including the continued launching of balloons carrying garbage into the South.

Nuclear officials from South Korea, Japan and the United States condemned the launch in a telephone call as a violation of UN resolutions and announced a tough response to further provocations, according to a statement from Seoul's foreign ministry. The US Indo-Pacific Command said on X that it was aware of the launches and was consulting closely with Seoul and Tokyo.

Read also

North Korea plans to reopen borders to foreign tourists by December

North Korea plans to resume international tourism in its northeastern city.