WEB DESK
North Korea has fired a short-range ballistic missile, the third apparently successful test in as many weeks. South Korea’s military says the missile flew nearly 450 kilometers before landing in the sea. It says the missile was launched from North Korea’s eastern coast and believed to be a Scud-class ballistic missile.
Japan’s Defense Ministry also confirmed the missile launch. Japan’s chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, said the missile landed in the exclusive economic zone of Japan between Sado and Oki islands.
The US Pacific Command said the missile was launched from Wonsan in North Korea and flew for about six minutes before landing.
The launch comes a day after North Korea’s state media reported the test of a new anti-aircraft weapon system. North Korea has launched 11 missiles so far this year, with the last one taking place on May 21st.
The North has repeatedly defied a UN resolution banning all nuclear and missile activity, and has ramped up its tests in recent months.
US Defense Secretary, Jim Mattis has expressed strong caution about the capabilities of North Korean missiles. In an interview with a Television channel yesterday, he said US assumes that North Koea is getting better with each test.
He called North a direct threat to the United States. He took a cautious stance toward taking military action, saying a military conflict with North Korea would probably be the worst kind of fighting in most people’s lifetimes. He stressed the need to continue seeking a diplomatic solution.
Mattis said the US has made it very clear that it is willing to work with China and that he believes China has tried to be helpful in settling the issue.
Meanwhile, the US Defense Department says officials are planning to dispatch the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier to the region to conduct a joint drill with the USS Carl Vinson carrier group which is already maneuvering in waters off the Korean Peninsula.