North Korea launched two different types of short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday in its latest test, including an improved version of a Russian projectile.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) detected the shots at 6:01 and 6:23 local time today (21:01 and 21:23 GMT on Wednesday), which would have been fired from Samsok, in the North Korean capital area of Pyongyang.

One of them traveled a distance of 350 kilometers at a maximum height of 80 km and the other flew about 800 km with an apogee of 60 km, before falling into the waters of the Sea of ​​Japan (called the East Sea on the Korean peninsula), outside the Japanese exclusive economic zone (EEZ), according to the Yonhap news agency.

Two different types of missiles

The South Korean army believes that the Pyongyang regime has tested two different types of missiles this time, including an improved version of the Russian Iskander projectile, characterized by low-flying and irregular trajectory.

Today’s was the sixth North Korean launch in ten days and came hours after Seoul and Washington fired multiple short-range projectiles and announced the return of the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald to waters off the Korean peninsula. Regan.

In its first public statement about its recent activity, North Korea has assured, in a brief statement from its Foreign Ministry, that it is due to the joint maneuvers of the South and the United States around the peninsula, including the participation of the aircraft carrier in exercises with the South Korean and Japanese navies last week.

Japan’s anger at the UN

After this new North Korean release, Japan has lamented the existing division in the United Nations Security Council regarding Pyongyang’s activity.

“It is unfortunate that the Council cannot act in the face of these provocative acts, so we will continue to cooperate with the international community so that North Korea fulfills all the obligations of the Council resolutions,” the deputy government spokesman said at a press conference on Thursday. Japanese Seiji Kihara.

Kihara considers that “these acts cannot be forgiven” and has asked the Council to “assume its responsibility and role in maintaining peace and security”.

The UN Security Council met on Wednesday to discuss the recent increase in missile launches by the North Korean regime and specifically after the firing, on Tuesday, of a medium-range ballistic projectile that flew over Japanese territory and sparked criticism. of the international community.

The meeting, however, revealed the current fissure within the body, after Russia and China, the permanent members of the Council with the right to veto, distanced themselves from the general condemnation of said trial.

Following today’s releases, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has pledged for his part to protect his country’s security through a strong alliance with the United States and trilateral cooperation with Washington and Tokyo.

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