North Korea fires two ballistic missiles ahead of US Vice President's visit to South Korea
(Baonghean.vn) - On September 28, the South Korean military said that North Korea had just launched two short-range ballistic missiles off the country's east coast, just one day before US Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in Seoul.
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North Korea's missile launches come ahead of US Vice President Mike Pence's visit to Seoul. Photo: AP |
The launch came two days after South Korean and US forces conducted military exercises in waters off South Korea's east coast, including an aircraft carrier.
On September 25, North Korea also launched a ballistic missile off its east coast.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were launched from the Sunan area of Pyongyang on September 28 between 6:10 p.m. and 6:20 p.m. local time.
“Our military has stepped up surveillance and vigilance, and is maintaining combat readiness while cooperating closely with the US,” the agency said in a statement.
Japan's coast guard also reported a suspected ballistic missile test, a move that Defense Minister Toshiro Ino criticized as "unacceptable".
After a stop in Japan, Ms. Harris will travel to the South Korean capital and visit the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between the country and North Korea on September 29.
In a speech hours before arriving aboard the USS Howard destroyer in the Japanese city of Yokosuka, Ms Harris said Sunday's missile launch was part of an "illegal weapons program that threatens regional stability and violates multiple UN Security Council resolutions".
North Korea has conducted multiple missile tests this year and is believed to be finalizing preparations for a nuclear test. Pyongyang has also rejected Security Council resolutions as an infringement on its sovereign rights to defense and space exploration, and has criticized joint military exercises by South Korea and the United States as evidence of hostile intentions.