North Korea fires 2 more ballistic missiles off its east coast

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea fired two more ballistic missiles off its east coast on Monday, as the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un warned U.S. forces to halt military drills, saying the reclusive nuclear state could turn the Pacific into a “firing range.”

The launches come just two days after North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile into the sea off Japan’s west coast, prompting the U.S. to hold joint air exercises with South Korea and separately with Japan on Sunday.

North Korea’s state media confirmed it fired two projectiles from a multiple rocket launcher, aiming at targets 245 miles and 209 miles away, respectively.

“The 600mm multiple rocket launcher mobilised in the firing … is a means of tactical nuclear weapon,” capable of “paralysing” an enemy airfield, state news agency KCNA said.

Japan’s Defense Ministry said the two ballistic missiles, fired around 2200 GMT, reached a maximum altitude of about 100 km and 50 km, traveling about 350 to 400 kilometers before falling outside Japan’s EEZ.

There were no reports of damage to aircraft or vessels.

In a statement, the ministry said it would continue to gather and analyze information in close cooperation with the U.S.

“North Korea’s series of actions, including its repeated ballistic missile launches, threaten the peace and security of Japan, the region, and the international community,” the ministry said. “Japan lodged a strong protest and forcefully condemned North Korea.”

Tensions rising

North Korean leader Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, warned against increased presence of U.S. strategic assets on the Korean peninsula after the U.S. held the joint air drills with its Asian allies over the weekend.

“We are carefully examining the influence it would exert on the security of our state,” she said in a statement. “The frequency of using the Pacific as our firing range depends upon the U.S. forces’ action character.”

Kim Yo Jong also challenged experts’ assessment of its missile capabilities after some pointed out that it took over nine hours for the “sudden” missile launch to take place following an order from leader Kim and said South Korea didn’t even fly reconnaissance planes at the time of its launch.

“We have possessed satisfactory technology and capability and, now will focus on increasing the quantity of their force,” she said. “We affirm once again that there is no change in our will to make the worst maniacs escalating the tensions pay the price for their action.”

Analysts say tensions in the region are expected to further heighten as South Korea and the U.S. plan a variety of expanded field exercises, including live fire drills, in the coming weeks and months.

The two countries are also set to hold simulated nuclear drills, called the Deterence Strategy Committee Tabletop Exercise, at the Pentagon on Wednesday.

Park Won-gon, a professor at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, said Monday’s missile launch and statement are in line with the North Korean foreign ministry’s recent threat to take “unprecedentedly persistent, strong” responses to the allies’ joint military drills.

“North Korea seems to be trying to stoke tension in the region and reinforce its nuclear capability by raising issue over the drills, and the statement by Kim Yo Jong signals there would be additional provocations,” Park said.

Monday’s missile launch is the North’s third major weapons test this year after it fired an unprecedented number of missiles last year, including ICBMs capable of striking anywhere in the U.S.