North Korea fires ballistic missile towards Japan ahead of US-South Korea drills

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Seoul: North Korea fired a ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan on Wednesday, in its second such test in less than a week and days before major military exercises between the United States and South Korea.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile was launched from the Wonsan area on the east coast at about 6am and travelled more than 700km before landing in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.

Japan’s Defence Ministry also detected the launch and said the missile fell outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi described the launch as a threat to regional peace and security.

South Korea said it was maintaining military readiness in cooperation with the US and condemned the launch as a provocation that violates UN Security Council resolutions.

The missile test came ahead of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, which are due to begin on August 17. North Korea has repeatedly criticised the US-South Korea drills, calling them preparations for an invasion.

The latest launch adds to rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with South Korea, the US and Japan continuing to share information on North Korea’s missile activity.

Pic Credit: AFP