Kim's Sunday salvos. Ballistic missiles fired towards Japan

North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of ​​Japan on Sunday morning, the South Korean military said. According to authorities in Tokyo, the missiles landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. This is Pyongyang's second such attempt this month.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in Seoul said it detected missiles fired from the city of Sinpho, located on the coast of the Sea of ​​Japan, after 11 p.m. 6 local time (11 p.m. on Saturday in Poland). The missiles flew a distance of approximately 140 km.

“Our military is closely monitoring North Korean movements as part of a strong South Korean-U.S. combined defense posture and maintains the ability to respond overwhelmingly to any provocation,” the JCS said.

The Japanese government condemned the attempt, calling it a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. Vice Defense Minister Masahisa Miyazaki said Tokyo had lodged a “strong protest through diplomatic channels through the embassy in Beijing.” He added that Pyongyang's actions “threaten the peace and security of our country, the region and the international community.”

Japan's defense ministry said the missiles landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone and no air or water damage was reported.

Pyongyang last fired multiple short-range missiles on April 8. Following the test, North Korean state media announced that it was testing a tactical ballistic missile with a cluster bomb warhead that can “reduce any target” within its range to dust. The day before, another unidentified object was tested and disappeared immediately after take-off.

The AP agency also emphasized that Sunday's tests took place a few days after the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, warned during a visit to Seoul that “Pyongyang's ability to produce nuclear weapons has significantly increased, allowing the creation of several dozen warheads.”

Krzysztof Pawliszak (PAP)

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