The missiles were launched from various locations in North Korea into waters east of the Korean peninsula between 9:08 a.m. and 9:43 a.m. local time in Seoul on Sunday, according to joint chiefs of staff.
The missiles mark the 17th launch by North Korea this year. The latest, on May 25, came just as US President Joe Biden had concluded his trip to Asia and was returning to the United States.
South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said the eight missiles traveled distances of 110 to 670 kilometers (68 to 416 miles) at altitudes of 25 to 90 kilometers (15 to 55 miles) and speeds of Mach. 3 to Mach 6.
They were launched from four locations in North Korea: the Sunan area in the capital Pyongyang, Kaechon in the South Pyongan Province, Tongchang-ri in the North Pyongan Province, and Hamhung in the South Hamgyong Province.
“The continued launch of ballistic missiles by North Korea is a serious provocation that undermines the peace and stability not only of the Korean peninsula but also of the international community,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. which condemned and urged the North to “immediately stop” these actions.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida “strongly protested” North Korea’s multiple missile launches, telling reporters they were a clear violation of UN resolutions.
Japan’s Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi called the launch “unprecedented” and confirmed that at least six missiles, but possibly more, fired by North Korea are estimated to have fallen outside the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). ) from Japan.
“The extremely large number of launches from at least three places in a short period of time is unprecedented,” he said, adding that missile launches that threaten international peace and security cannot be tolerated.
According to the Ministry of Defense of Japan, six of the missiles reached a maximum altitude of 50 to 100 kilometers (31 to 62 miles) and covered a distance of about 300 to 400 kilometers (186 to 249 miles).
Japan has formally protested North Korea’s latest diplomatic actions with Beijing, Kishi said.
In response to Sunday’s launch, South Korean National Security Chief Kim Sung-han held a meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Security Council and called the repeated launches of ballistic missiles from the North “a challenge for the new government’s “security stance,” the presidential office said.
Sunday’s launch is North Korea’s third missile test since new South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol took office on May 10th.
Joint Chiefs of Staff President Won In-choul and the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Forces Command of the Republic of Korea and the United States, Paul LaCamera, also held a virtual meeting and reaffirmed their ability to combined defense to immediately detect and intercept North Korean missiles.
The launch comes a day after South Korean and U.S. navies concluded a combined three-day exercise in Japan’s Okinawa waters, the South Korean military confirmed to CNN.
In a press release, the U.S. Navy said it had deployed its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier the USS Ronald Reagan along with the Carrier Strike Group 5.
Also involved in the exercise were ROKS Sejong The Great of the South Korean Navy and the amphibious assault ship Marado, said the United States Navy.