On Monday, North Korea allegedly fired another missile off its east coast. This is its third such test in just over three weeks. The short-range ballistic missile fell in the ocean within 200 miles of its coastline.
The missile landed within its Exclusive Economic Zone, an area of water extended 200 nautical miles from the Japanese coast, in the Sea of Japan.
South Korea and Japan immediately issued strong protests, with Japan’s Prime Minister promising “concrete action” in response and the South Korean defense chiefs saying the North would face “strong punishment from our military.”
“This launch is an extremely problematic act for the safety of airplanes and ships and is clearly violating the UN resolution. The repeated provocative acts by North Korea is absolutely not acceptable,” Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said in a statement.
“In order to deter North Korea, we will take concrete action together with the United States,” said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
“We will maintain high vigilance in coordination with South Korea and the international community and take all possible measures to secure the safety of the people of Japan.”
“North Korea’s continuous provocative actions will cause its own isolation and it will be facing strong punishment from our military, South Korea and US alliance and the international community,” a statement from South Korea’s Joint Chiefs said.
