Japan Corrects Number of Ballistic Missiles Launched by North Korea on 14th from 'At Least 1' to '2'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Taemin] The Japanese Ministry of Defense announced on the 16th that its analysis concluded North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles on the 14th, according to Kyodo News.

The Japanese government revised its previous analysis from "at least one missile" fired on the 14th to two missiles on this day. Although the Japanese government claimed that North Korea fired two submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) near Sinpo, South Hamgyong Province, on October 19 last year?contrary to South Korean authorities' announcement?it later acknowledged an analysis error and corrected the count to one missile. Since then, it has taken a cautious stance on specifying the number of projectiles.

The Ministry of Defense also estimated that if the two missiles flew on a normal trajectory at a maximum altitude of about 50 km, their flight distance would be approximately 400 km. The ministry added that these missiles appear similar in appearance to the short-range ballistic missile launched on May 4, 2019, and seem to be the same model as the one fired from a railway vehicle on September 15 last year.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on the 14th that North Korea fired two projectiles presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles from the Uiju area in North Pyongan Province toward the northeast over the East Sea at around 2:41 p.m. and 2:52 p.m. The two missiles, launched 11 minutes apart, were detected flying approximately 430 km with an altitude of about 36 km.

On the 15th, North Korea's Korean Central News Agency confirmed the firing of two 'North Korean version of Iskander' (KN-23) short-range ballistic missiles, stating that "a field training exercise to assess the combat readiness of the Railway Mobile Missile Regiment in North Pyongan Province was conducted on the 14th."