South Korea and Japan’s militaries reported that North Korea fired two ballistic missiles in an easterly direction early on Wednesday, only hours after a U.S. ballistic missile submarine arrived in Busan, South Korea.
That is the first visit by a U.S. submarine in four decades.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense reported that both missiles appeared to have fallen beyond Japan’s EEZ. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of South Korea demanded that North Korea cease its missile launches.
The U.S. military confirmed knowledge of the missile launches and said they were in close contact with their allies and partners.
Although the launches do not appear to be an immediate threat to the United States or its allies, they point out the destabilizing impact of North Korea’s illicit weapons program, according to a statement from the United States Indo-Pacific Command.
Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada told reporters that the missiles had a range of 550 and 600 kilometers, respectively. The missiles reached an altitude of 50 kilometers (31 miles).
North Korea claimed its Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile test launch last week was a warning to the United States and other foes.
