The Defense Ministry of South Korea reported that the missiles were launched at 06:45 and 07:02 local time on Saturday from South Hamgyong and landed just outside of Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
In addition, according to an assessment by the US those missiles were aimed for the Sea of Japan. Both US and South Korea are expected to work closely in investigating the firing of the missiles.
According to KCNA, the test was supervised by Kim Jong-Un himself. The weapon itself was stated to be a ‘super-large multiple rocket launcher’ that was recently added to North Korea’s weapons. The Agency further reported that Kim Jong-Un was pleased with the results of the test and applauded the team who had developed it.
North Korea has long been a destabilizing factor of East Asian security with its insistence of testing out its weapons, much to the dismay of other countries. The firing of these two missiles would be the seventh time after a long hiatus, with the last one being the end of July.
Responding to the issue, states such as the United States, South Korea, China, and Japan have taken different measures in dealing with the problematic state. From the well-known Six-Party Talks to the recent one-to-one meetings with Kim Jong-un, efforts have been extensive.
Despite this, North Korea has often been reluctant to engage in peace talks, opting to pull out and continue developing its nuclear weapons. This year specifically has been sour for those hoping for progress, as the regime had announced that its talks with South Korea are over. This was apparently caused by South Korea conducting a joint military drill with the US to which North Korea views as preparation for an invasion, and that the missiles were a ‘retaliation’ to the drill itself.
