North Korea launches long-range ballistic missile toward waters between Korean Peninsula and Japan

Hours after firing a short-range weapon from the Pyongyang area, North Korea launched a long-range ballistic missile toward the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. According to the Japanese Defence Ministry, it was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with the potential capability of reaching anywhere in the US. The launch took place in the early hours today.

In response to the launches, South Korea said the launches are a grave provocation that



threatens international peace. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also denounced the launches as not only a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions but also a threat to the peace and stability of the region. 

The back-to-back launches came after South Korea and the US agreed to strengthen their joint nuclear deterrence capabilities in response to North Korea’s increasing nuclear threats.