North Korea fires two short-range missiles into the sea - "Completely unacceptable"

Created: 06/10/2022 06:20

A TV screen in Seoul, South Korea, shows a news program about the North Korean missile launch.

© Lee Jin-Man/AP/dpa

The US is conducting military exercises with South Korea - and North Korea responds by firing two more short-range missiles.

North Korea fired ballistic missiles Thursday for the sixth time in a few days.

The South Korean General Staff said two short-range missiles were fired into the sea off North Korea's east coast.

It appears to have been a different type of rocket than previous launches.

Pyongyang justified the shootings as retaliation for joint South Korean-US military exercises.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has condemned North Korea's repeated missile launches as "completely unacceptable".

The Japanese news agency Kyodo reported on Thursday.

The Japanese coast guard also confirmed the launch of two suspected ballistic missiles by North Korea.

According to Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, the first missile had a range of 350 kilometers and a maximum altitude of 80 kilometers.

The second rocket had a range of 800 kilometers and a height of about 60 kilometers.

"Regardless of their destination, North Korea's repeated launches of ballistic missiles cannot be tolerated," Hamada said.

North Korea's missile technology has "improved significantly".

South Korea's General Staff said Seoul has "intensified surveillance and surveillance" and is on high alert in coordination with the US.

North Korea fires missiles - and raises allegations against the USA

North Korea has launched several ballistic missiles in the past two weeks, and the country has conducted a record number of missile tests since the beginning of the year.

On Tuesday, Pyongyang fired a medium-range missile over Japan for the first time in five years, sparking international outrage.

South Korea and the United States responded by launching their own missiles.

They also announced that they would relocate the nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan to the region again.

The North Korean Foreign Ministry accused the United States of posing a "serious threat to the stability of the situation on the Korean peninsula" by stationing the aircraft carrier.

The recent missile tests are "just retaliation" against joint exercises between South Korea and the United States.

At the urging of the United States, the UN Security Council dealt with North Korea's missile tests on Wednesday (local time).

Pyongyang's ally China accused Washington of provoking North Korea's missile tests.

The West has been pushing for stronger sanctions against communist-ruled North Korea for months.

However, Russia and China prevent this.