North Korea Fires Two Ballistic Missiles Again: South Korea Alerts, Japan Takes Problems Seriously

Illustration of North Korea's new cruise missile launch last weekend. (Source: KCNA)

JAKARTA - North Korea fired two ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Wednesday, the South Korean military's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.

An unidentified type of missile was fired from the north-central hinterland on Wednesday afternoon local time. South Korean and US intelligence authorities are analyzing the details for additional information, the JCS said in a release.

"Our military maintains a posture of full readiness in close cooperation with the US," the JCS said, citing the Korea Times September 15.

Further details were not immediately available, such as where exactly the missile was fired and its flight range.

The shooting was the second such ballistic missile launch by North Korea so far this year, or the fifth known major weapons test if one involved a cruise missile. The shooting comes just three days after North Korea tested a new type of long-range cruise missile at the weekend.

Separately, Japanese authorities through the Ministry of Defense said the missiles did not enter its territory. Meanwhile, the Japanese climbing guard said the missile projectile was believed to have fallen outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.

"North Korea's recent launch of ballistic missiles and other projectiles is a serious problem for Japan and the international community as a whole," the Defense Ministry said in a statement, according to Kyodo News.

In the aftermath of North Korea's firing test this time, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga condemned and called it outrageous, citing Reuters. Both PM Suga and South Korean President Moon Jae-in held their national security council sessions to discuss the launch, according to their office.