North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that traveled about 900 kilometers before falling into the waters of the exclusive economic zone of Japanaccording to the Japanese government and the South Korean Army, and the United States and the G7 condemned the act.
According to Hirokazu Matsuno, a spokesman for the Japanese government, Pyongyang “shot an ICBM-type ballistic missile in an easterly direction. It flew for approximately 66 minutes.”
That intercontinental ballistic missile traveled some 900 kilometers before falling at 6:27 p.m. local time (6:27 a.m. Argentine time), the spokesperson said, quoted by the AFP news agency.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida noted that the projectile it could have landed in the waters of Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
“Apparently, the ballistic missile fired by North Korea landed in Japan’s exclusive economic zone, west of Hokkaido,” Kishida told reporters.
According to the calculations of the Japanese authorities, the missile It was supposed to fall about 200 kilometers west of the island of Oshimaoff the island of Hokkaido (northern Japan), said the Japanese Vice Minister of Defense, Toshiro Ino.
Strong condemnations
USA “strongly” condemned the launch of the missile and assured that “unnecessarily increases tensions and risks destabilizing security in the region.”
USA will take “all necessary measures” to guarantee your safety and that of your allies South Korea and Japan, added a spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, Adrienne Watson.
According to Watson, the firing of the ICBM “constitutes a flagrant violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.”
Also they foreign ministers of the seven most advanced economies (G7) criticized the “reckless behavior” of North Korea and announced possible “significant” measures.
“North Korea’s reckless behavior demands a unified response from the international community, including significant measures by the UN Security Council,” said the G7 statement, made up of the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Japan , Canada and Italy.
Last November, another missile fired by the country led by leader Kim Jong-un would also have fallen into Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
North and South Korea tension
The military tensions have increased on the Korean peninsula since North Korea declared itself an “irreversible” nuclear statecarrying out various weapons tests, mainly ICBM missiles.
In response, South Korea increased its joint military exercises with its ally the United States.
In that framework, North Korea threatened Friday with a r“unprecedented” response to upcoming joint military exercises, which he sees as preparations for war.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who took office in May 2022 pledging more firmness with North Korea, intensified military exercises with the United States, interrupted during the unsuccessful dialogue process between Seoul and Pyongyang during the mandate. by Moon Jae-in.
In a sign of this change in attitude, Seoul branded Pyongyang an “enemy” in a defense document released Thursday, a term he had not used in six years and evidence of a hardening of his position on North Korea.
At a military parade in Pyongyang last week, a record number of ICBM-type missiles, capable of carrying nuclear warheads, and devices designed to carry such solid-fuel missiles were on display, experts said.
North Korea tries to develop a solid fuel ICBM missile. These types of projectiles are easier to store and transport, are more stable and quicker to prepare for a launch, making them more difficult to detect.
