Both South Korea and Japan condemned Pyongyang firing of two short-range missiles off its east coast on Monday (March 2), a move seen as a protest against annual military exercises between the South and the United States that were due to start hours later.
The missiles hit the sea early on Monday morning after traveling for about 490 km (305 miles), according to the South’s Defence Ministry.
“North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea from the Nampo area in the country’s western side. This is a deliberate provocation seen as an armed protest,” the ministry’s spokesman Kim Ming-seok told a news briefing in Seoul.
The firing came on the day when the U.S.-South Korean military exercises were scheduled to begin. The secretive North denounces the drills as a preparation for war.
The ministry said North Korea fired the missiles without designating any no-sail zones, which was regarded as a provocation.
“Our military and U.S. forces have enhanced surveillance posture and we are maintaining a posture to immediately respond. If North Korea takes provocative actions, our military will react firmly and strongly so North Koreawill regret bitterly,” Kim added.
Japan also strongly condemned the missile launches on Monday.
“North Korea’s missile launches are a major problem. From the point of view of safety issues for flights and shipping vessels but also a transgression of theNorth Korea-Japan Pyongyang Statement, the joint statement of the six way talks and the related (UN) Security Council resolutions. We have lodged a severe condemnation with North Korea,” Japan’s government spokesmanYoshihide Suga told a news conference.
Pyongyang has escalated its rhetoric against the drills, with a spokesman for itsarmy general staff saying Washington and Seoul “should be dealt with only by merciless strikes”.
North Korea frequently tests short-range missiles off its coast as part of military drills.
The United Nations has imposed sanctions banning North Korea from usingballistic missile technologies.
Reuters wires
