North Korea fires ICBMs towards Japan the day after launching 23 missiles near South Korea; US condemns ‘violation’

North Korea fired several missiles at Pacific Ocean near Japan on Thursday, including at least one ICBM, South Korean officials said.

“This morning, our military detected the launch of one long-range ballistic missile from the Sunan region in Pyongyang towards the East Sea and two short-range ballistic missiles from Kechon in South Pyongyang province towards the East Sea,” said Kim Jun Rak. , head of public relations for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, during a press conference in Seoul, Reuters reported.

The United States quickly condemned the launch in two statements from the White House and the State Department.

A television screen showing a news program reporting North Korea's missile launch with footage at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea Thursday, November.  3, 2022.

A television screen showing a news program reporting North Korea’s missile launch with footage at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea Thursday, November. 3, 2022.
(AP Photo/Lee ​​Jinman)

“The President and his national security team are assessing the situation in close collaboration with our allies and partners,” National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement. “The United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland, the Republic of Korea, and Japan’s allies.”

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United States condemns the launch of the DPRK ICBM,” said State Department spokesman Ned Price, referring to North Korea by its officially recognized name: the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Price also said that the continued launches indicate North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong-un’s lax attitude towards complying with international laws.

“This launch is a clear violation of several United Nations Security Council resolutions and demonstrates the threat that North Korea’s illegal weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs pose to its neighbors, the region, international peace and security, and the global non-proliferation regime,” he said.

US Department of State Spokesman Ned Price speaks at a press conference at the State Department, March 10, 2022, in Washington, DC.

US Department of State Spokesman Ned Price speaks at a press conference at the State Department, March 10, 2022, in Washington, DC.
(MANUEL BALCE CENETA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Price added: “This action highlights the need for all countries to fully implement the UN Security Council resolutions regarding the DPRK, which are designed to prohibit the DPRK from acquiring the technology and materials needed to conduct these destabilizing tests.”

Thursday’s launches come one day after North Korea launched at least 23 missiles on Wednesday, a single-day record.

Japanese officials said the ICBM may have failed mid-flight and disintegrated over the Sea of ​​Japan before hitting its intended target, correcting a previous statement by the Japanese administration that the ICBM had flown directly over Japan.

The failed launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile would be another setback for North Korea, which has never been able to successfully develop a nuclear-capable missile system.

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The US is also discouraged North Korea from any further launches, including a potential seventh nuclear test, which Price said would be “a dangerous, reckless, destabilizing act.”

“Together with the international community, we call on the DPRK to refrain from further provocations and to engage in sustained and substantive dialogue,” the statement said. “Our commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea and Japan remains unbreakable.”

Unstable startup prompted Japanese government order to evacuate and shelter in place on Thursday morning, Reuters reports.

North Korea blamed the US launches and alleged “serious military provocations” for Wednesday’s launches. They also appeared hours after North Korea said it would use nuclear weapons against the US and South Korea to make them “pay the worst price in history.”

One of the rockets fired on Wednesday landed particularly close to South Korea.

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US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke with South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin about the launches.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.