N. Korea Fires Short-Range Missiles in 4th Launch this Year
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea fired two suspected ballistic missiles into the sea Monday in its fourth weapons launch this month, South Koreas military said, with the apparent goal of demonstrating its military might amid paused diplomacy with the United States and pandemic border closures.
South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said the North likely fired two short-range ballistic missiles from an area in Sunan, the location of Pyongyangs international airport. The missiles were launched four minutes apart Monday morning and flew around 380 kilometers (236 miles) on a maximum altitude of 42 kilometers (26 miles) before landing in waters off the countrys northeastern coast, it said.
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said the missiles did not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to its allies, but highlighted the destabilizing impact of the Norths illicit weapons program. Japans Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said the missiles landed outside the Japans exclusive economic zone, and the chief cabinet secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, condemned North Koreas actions as threats to peace.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who is visiting the United Arab Emirates, instructed officials to make utmost efforts to ensure stability on the Korean Peninsula, his office said. It also said members of the presidential National Security Council stressed the need to revive nuclear diplomacy with Pyongyang.
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/01/17/n-korea-fires-short-range-missiles-4th-launch-year.html