North Korea fires 3 ballistic missiles; Japan calls it 'serious threat'
Story highlights
- Kim Jong Un "expressed great satisfaction" over the launch
- The missile firing comes as China opposes deployment of South Korean missile defense system
(CNN)North Korea fired three ballistic
missiles Monday morning,
according to South Korea's military.
missiles Monday morning,
according to South Korea's military.
The missiles were fired
from areas around Hwangju county,
inNorth Hwanghae province,
toward the Sea of Japan,
South Korea's military said.
from areas around Hwangju county,
inNorth Hwanghae province,
toward the Sea of Japan,
South Korea's military said.
Officials said the launch was believed to be of midrange
Rodong missiles, which flew about 1,000 kilometers
(620 miles)
"without giving any prior navigational warning."
Rodong missiles, which flew about 1,000 kilometers
(620 miles)
"without giving any prior navigational warning."
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "expressed great satisfaction"
over the launch and called on his country to bolster its
nuclear forces,
according to a report on Tuesday in the state-run KCNA
news agency.
over the launch and called on his country to bolster its
nuclear forces,
according to a report on Tuesday in the state-run KCNA
news agency.
It comes just under two weeks after Pyongyang
test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile.
test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile.
That missile entered Japan's air defense
identification zone,
the first time that has happened.
Monday's launch also fired missiles
into the Japanese defense zone,
again without warning.
identification zone,
the first time that has happened.
Monday's launch also fired missiles
into the Japanese defense zone,
again without warning.
G20 launch
In a statement, the United States said it "strongly condemns"
the multiple launches. The move came at a potentially
embarrassing
time for North Korea's only real ally, China, which
washosting the G20 summit in Hangzhou.
the multiple launches. The move came at a potentially
embarrassing
time for North Korea's only real ally, China, which
washosting the G20 summit in Hangzhou.
"Today's reckless launches by North Korea threaten
civil aviation
and maritime commerce in the region," State Department spokesman
John Kirby said on Monday.
civil aviation
and maritime commerce in the region," State Department spokesman
John Kirby said on Monday.
"We will raise our concerns at the UN about the
threat posed to
international security by these programs," he continued.
"We will also do so in other fora — including the u
pcoming
East Asia Summit — to bolster international resolve
to hold the
DPRK accountable for its provocative actions.
Our commitment to the defense of our allies in the face
of these threats remains ironclad."
threat posed to
international security by these programs," he continued.
"We will also do so in other fora — including the u
pcoming
East Asia Summit — to bolster international resolve
to hold the
DPRK accountable for its provocative actions.
Our commitment to the defense of our allies in the face
of these threats remains ironclad."
Japan's Defense Minister Tomomi Inada
said the launch was a "serious threat" to the country's security,
adding that it was clear North Korea was learning
from past failures.
said the launch was a "serious threat" to the country's security,
adding that it was clear North Korea was learning
from past failures.
"Looking at the fact that the three missiles have
landed on almost the same spot at almost the same time, I think their missile technology
has substantially improved," she said.
landed on almost the same spot at almost the same time, I think their missile technology
has substantially improved," she said.
Meanwhile, China's foreign minister spokeswoman
Hua Chunying called
for calm. "At the moment, the situation on the (Korean) peninsula
is quite complex and sensitive," Hua said.
Hua Chunying called
for calm. "At the moment, the situation on the (Korean) peninsula
is quite complex and sensitive," Hua said.
"We hope all relevant parties can avoid taking actions that
may escalate tensions, and can make joint
efforts to maintain peace and stability on the peninsula."
may escalate tensions, and can make joint
efforts to maintain peace and stability on the peninsula."
Link to THAAD comments?
According to one analyst, the launches were timed for
maximum effect.
maximum effect.
"This is Pyongyang's way of reminding everyone of their existence
at a moment when all the parties are together, in a typically defiant,
North Korean way," John Delury, assistant professor at
Yonsei University
in South Korea, told CNN.
at a moment when all the parties are together, in a typically defiant,
North Korean way," John Delury, assistant professor at
Yonsei University
in South Korea, told CNN.
The launches also came hours after Chinese President
Xi Jinping told his South Korean counterpart at the G20
that Beijing opposesthe deployment of the
United States' THAAD missile defense system
to South Korea.
Xi Jinping told his South Korean counterpart at the G20
that Beijing opposesthe deployment of the
United States' THAAD missile defense system
to South Korea.
"Mishandling the issue is not conducive to
strategic stability in the region and could intensify disputes,
" Xi was quoted as telling Park Geun-hye, according to a report from
China's official Xinhua News Agency.
strategic stability in the region and could intensify disputes,
" Xi was quoted as telling Park Geun-hye, according to a report from
China's official Xinhua News Agency.
THAAD woes
The stated purpose of the THAAD system is to defend
South Korea from missile attack from the North,
but Beijing views it as an attempt to shift the regional
power balance in favor of US allies.
South Korea from missile attack from the North,
but Beijing views it as an attempt to shift the regional
power balance in favor of US allies.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has previously said
the deployment of the anti-missile system could jeopardize
"China's legitimate national security interests."
the deployment of the anti-missile system could jeopardize
"China's legitimate national security interests."
"THAAD has a range that could hit weapons in China,"
said Yvonne Chiu, an expert on military policy and diplomacy at
Hong Kong University.
said Yvonne Chiu, an expert on military policy and diplomacy at
Hong Kong University.
She added that China was understandably concerned
"about having a US made, US run missile system in its backyard."
"about having a US made, US run missile system in its backyard."
Delury said that while the Chinese "recognize that something
has to be done about North Korea," they view the
THAAD system as
"killing a chicken with an ax."
has to be done about North Korea," they view the
THAAD system as
"killing a chicken with an ax."
While the latest tests may seem to undermine Beijing's anti-THAAD
argument, Delury said it "will create more tension between the
South Koreans and the Chinese," which will benefit Pyongyang.
argument, Delury said it "will create more tension between the
South Koreans and the Chinese," which will benefit Pyongyang.
South Korea announced the deployment of the missile system in July
but it is not yet in operation.
but it is not yet in operation.
CNN's Kevin Liptak and Pamela Boykoff contributed reporting from Hangzhou, China.
Paid Content
