Kishida: "North Korea's ballistic missile launch is absolutely unacceptable"

Japan Defense Minister: "Missile's Maximum Altitude About 50 km, Possible Irregular Trajectory"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The Japanese government has issued a strong condemnation following North Korea's launch of a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM).

On the 25th, Japanese Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu held a press conference and announced that the missile launched by North Korea that day "likely flew at an irregular trajectory and reached a high altitude."

He continued, "At around 6:52 a.m. today, at least one ballistic missile was launched eastward from inland North Korea," explaining, "The missile's maximum altitude was about 50 km, and it appears to have flown approximately 400 km before landing near North Korea's eastern coastal area."

Defense Minister Hamada added that the missile's landing location is estimated to be outside the waters that the Japanese government designates as its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

On the same day, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio strongly condemned North Korea's ballistic missile launch as "a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions," and according to Mainichi Shimbun, he stated, "We will continue to gather information and devote all efforts to surveillance and monitoring to ensure Japan's peace and security."

Prime Minister Kishida also emphasized, "Since the beginning of this year, North Korea has been launching ballistic missiles at a high frequency, including new ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) types," adding, "North Korea's series of actions are unacceptable not only to Japan but also to the peace and security of the region and the international community."

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced, "Our military detected one short-range ballistic missile launched eastward over the East Sea from the Taechon area in North Pyongan Province at around 6:53 a.m. today." The Joint Chiefs stated, "The flight distance of the short-range ballistic missile launched by North Korea was about 600 km, altitude about 60 km, and speed approximately Mach 5. Detailed specifications are being precisely analyzed by South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities."