North Korea fired three ballistic missiles early on Wednesday after the United States President Joe Biden left Asia. South Korea's military has confirmed this news.
The South Korean authorities said the missiles, including one ICBM, were fired in the space of less than an hour from the Sunan area in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea.
U.S. officials had repeatedly warned that North Korea could conduct a long-range missile launch during or after Biden’s Asia trip. South Korean officials also warned that North Korea was ready for another weapons test during Biden’s visit to Asia.
North Korea’s missile testing
North Korea has been testing ballistic missiles since the beginning of this year. North Korea aggressively expanded its military capabilities in recent months despite limited resources. North Korea tested long-range cruise missiles and short-range ballistic missiles as a part of a record-breaking streak of launches this year.
Japan confirmed at least two launches happened on Wednesday. Japan's Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi said the first missile flew about 300 km with a maximum altitude of around 550 km. He said that missile launches can threaten the peace, stability, and safety of Japan.
Joe Biden condemns North Korea’s ballistic missile tests
During Biden’s visit to Asia, the United States and South Korea jointly condemned North Korea’s ballistic missile tests. Biden and newly sworn-in South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol also discussed North Korea’s nuclear threat. The two leaders decided to expand the scope of combined military exercises and training around the Korean peninsula.
In Japan, Biden met with the families of Japanese citizens who were kidnapped by North Korean agents decades ago.
North Korea has conducted 17 rounds of launches this year. In March, an unknown ballistic missile launched by North Korea exploded in mid-air. On March 26, North Korea tested its new Hwasong-17 ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) system.
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