Following the launch of ballistic missiles by North Korea for the first time in about a year, the government is rushing to analyze in cooperation with the United States and South Korea, and is fully alert and guarded that North Korea may continue to launch in the future. It is a policy to expect.
North Korea launched two ballistic missiles on the 25th, both of which are believed to have flown approximately 450 kilometers and fall into the Sea of Japan outside Japan's EEZ = Exclusive Economic Zone.
This is the first ballistic missile launch since March last year, the first time in about a year since the inauguration of the Biden administration in the United States.
In response, the government protested to North Korea through the Japanese embassy in Beijing, China, saying that it clearly violated the UN Security Council resolution and was absolutely unacceptable.
In addition, Mr. Funakoshi, Director of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met with Deputy Secretary of State Sung Kim of the US State Department, who is in charge of North Korea issues, and Mr. No Gyu-duk, Director of the Korean Peninsula Peace Negotiations Headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea. We have confirmed that we will continue to work closely with the three countries of Japan, the United States and South Korea.
The Ministry of Defense is proceeding with analysis assuming that the ballistic missile launched this time flew in a normal orbit, and the government assumed that the U.S. and South Korean troops had conducted a Korean Peninsula emergency this month regarding the aim of North Korea. There is a view that there may be some scrutiny of the Byden administration, which is pushing ahead with a review of its policy toward North Korea as well as opposition to joint military exercises.
The government plans to cooperate with both the United States and South Korea to expedite the analysis, and to take all possible precautions and surveillance, saying that North Korea may continue to launch.