North Korea kicks off new year with ballistic missile test
According to the South Korean General Staff, a short-range ballistic missile was launched from the Ryongsong region at around 02:50 local time.
Consequently, the ballistic missile launched in the direction of the Sea of Japan (East Sea) crashed into the sea after traveling 400 kilometers in the air.
The ballistic missiles launched by North Korea provoked the reaction of South Korea and Japan.
“Our military maintains a strong readiness posture based on its ability to respond very forcefully to North Korean provocations,” the staff statement said.
Japanese Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu confirmed that the missile, which reached an altitude of about 100 km, fell outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
The Japanese government sent a diplomatic protest to North Korea through the Japanese Embassy in Beijing after the missile tests.
The official Kyodo news agency reported that it was unusual for the North Korean administration to test the missile earlier this year.
The US Indo-Pacific Command also reported that the trial drew attention to the “destabilizing effects” of North Korea’s illegal weapons program.
Japan and South Korea announced that North Korea conducted short-range ballistic missile tests on the last day of 2022. (AA)