Protest Lodged with North Korea via Embassy in Beijing
No Reports of Damage to Aircraft or Vessels
Japanese authorities analyzed that one of the multiple missiles launched by North Korea on May 8 may have flown on an irregular trajectory.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense stated that all of the ballistic missiles launched by North Korea that morning are presumed to have fallen outside of Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said, "One of the missiles was launched at around 9:20 a.m., flew approximately 800 km at an altitude of about 100 km, and then fell," adding, "There is a possibility that this missile flew on an irregular trajectory, and we are continuing our analysis."
The Japan Coast Guard is checking for any damage in the waters around Japan, but so far, there have been no reports of damage to aircraft or vessels.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshima Hayashi stated, "North Korea's actions pose a threat to peace and security and are a serious violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions," adding, "We lodged a stern protest with North Korea through the embassy route in Beijing."
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff detected that from 8:10 a.m. to 9:20 a.m. that day, North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles of various types from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea, and one of them flew up to about 800 km before landing in the East Sea.
An official from the Joint Chiefs of Staff explained, "One missile flew 250 km and fell on Alseom, and another flew 350 km and fell more than 100 km beyond Alseom."
Alseom, located off the coast of Kilju County in North Hamgyong Province, is an uninhabited island used by North Korea as a target for short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) test launches.
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