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| North Korea fires four missiles into Sea of Japan | North Korea fires four missiles into Sea of Japan |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| North Korea has fired four missiles into the Sea of Japan, South Korea’s military has said. | North Korea has fired four missiles into the Sea of Japan, South Korea’s military has said. |
| The missiles were launched from the Tongchang-ri region, where a missile base is located, and flew about 1,000 km (620 miles). | The missiles were launched from the Tongchang-ri region, where a missile base is located, and flew about 1,000 km (620 miles). |
| It was not immediately clear what type of missile was fired; Pyongyang has staged a series of missile test-launches of various ranges in recent months. | It was not immediately clear what type of missile was fired; Pyongyang has staged a series of missile test-launches of various ranges in recent months. |
| Earlier, the South’s Yonhap news agency cited an unnamed ministry official as saying one of the projectiles could be an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the US mainland. | Earlier, the South’s Yonhap news agency cited an unnamed ministry official as saying one of the projectiles could be an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the US mainland. |
| Three of the missiles landed in Japan’s exclusive economic zone, said Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe. The defence minister Tomomi Inada said they landed in waters as close as 300km (186 miles) to the Oga Peninsula in Akita prefecture Japan’s northeast coast. | |
| Japanese officials described the launches as a grave threat and said they lodged “strong protests” with nuclear-armed North Korea. | Japanese officials described the launches as a grave threat and said they lodged “strong protests” with nuclear-armed North Korea. |
| “The launches are clearly in violation of Security Council resolutions. It is an extremely dangerous action,” Abe said during questions in parliament. | “The launches are clearly in violation of Security Council resolutions. It is an extremely dangerous action,” Abe said during questions in parliament. |
| No reports of damage to shipping or aircraft had been received since the launches, Japanese officials said. | No reports of damage to shipping or aircraft had been received since the launches, Japanese officials said. |
| In response to the launches, South Korea’s acting president Hwang Kyo-ahn said Seoul should swiftly complete the deployment of a US anti-missile defence system after North Korea launched four missiles earlier in the day. | |
| Seoul and Washington launched annual joint military exercises last week that regularly infuriate Pyongyang, which condemns them as provocative rehearsals for invasion. | Seoul and Washington launched annual joint military exercises last week that regularly infuriate Pyongyang, which condemns them as provocative rehearsals for invasion. |
| Tongchang-ri is near the North’s border with China, where North Korea fired a long-range rocket last year that put an object into orbit. The launch was condemned by the United Nations for violating resolutions that ban the use of missile technology. | Tongchang-ri is near the North’s border with China, where North Korea fired a long-range rocket last year that put an object into orbit. The launch was condemned by the United Nations for violating resolutions that ban the use of missile technology. |
| A South Korean military official said the new launch, which took place at 7:36am (2236 GMT Sunday), was being analysed to determine the type of the projectile used. | A South Korean military official said the new launch, which took place at 7:36am (2236 GMT Sunday), was being analysed to determine the type of the projectile used. |
| “South Korea and the United States are conducting a close-up analysis, regarding further information,” South Korea’s Office of Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. | “South Korea and the United States are conducting a close-up analysis, regarding further information,” South Korea’s Office of Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. |
| North Korea has threatened to take “strong retaliatory measures” after South Korea and the United States began annual joint military drills on Wednesday that test their defensive readiness against possible aggression from the North. | North Korea has threatened to take “strong retaliatory measures” after South Korea and the United States began annual joint military drills on Wednesday that test their defensive readiness against possible aggression from the North. |
| North Korea criticizes the annual drills calling them preparation for war against it. | North Korea criticizes the annual drills calling them preparation for war against it. |
| Reuters and Agence France-Presse contributed to this report | Reuters and Agence France-Presse contributed to this report |