North Korea fires missile amid US-South Korea military preparations

North Korea on Saturday fired a long-range missile from its capital into the sea near Japan. This information has been given by neighboring South Korea and Japan. The suspected missile launch comes a day after North Korea’s Defense Ministry threatened South Korea with an announcement of military drills with the US. According to the armies of South Korea and Japan, the missile was fired from a high angle to avoid it going into the territory of neighboring countries.

He said that the missile covered a distance of about 900 km while passing through a maximum altitude of 5,700 km. Similar information was received in November when North Korea tested the Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile. Experts say that if this missile travels from a normal height, it can reach the US mainland. Japanese government spokeswoman Hirokazu Matsuno said there was no report of any damage from the missile.

He said the missile is expected to land in Japan’s exclusive economic zone, about 200 kilometers off the west coast of Oshima Island. Ōshima is located in the north of the main island of Hokkaido. The reported missile test by North Korea comes a day after its Foreign Ministry threatened. North Korea has warned of “unprecedented” action after South Korea announced a series of military drills with the US to sharpen its preparations against Pyongyang.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office said his national security director Kim Sung Han chaired an emergency security meeting in which members called the missile test a “serious” provocation and a violation of a UN Security Council resolution. This will increase tension in the area. He condemned North Korea’s push for nuclear weapons development despite worsening economic conditions and food insecurity, saying it would only lead to tougher international sanctions.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tokyo was in communication with Washington and Seoul about the test. He described North Korea’s test as an “act of violence that would provoke international order.” It is the first known missile test by North Korea since January 1. On January 1, it fired a short-range missile. Last week, a military parade was held in Pyongyang that displayed more than a sight of intercontinental missiles.

North Korea issued a statement on Friday saying South Korea and the US plan to hold 20 military drills this year, including large-scale military drills. Pyongyang has criminalized the rivals, accusing them of deliberately disrupting peace and stability in the region.

Disclaimer:IndiaTheNews has not edited this news. This news has been published from PTI-language feed.

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