North Korea fires two ballistic missiles ahead of Vice Biden's visit to Seoul
Harris: We will act without fear in Asia and not seek conflict with China
Harris speaks to US soldiers in Japan a day after her participation in the national funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Reuters
US Vice President Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, stressed that the United States will act "without fear or hesitation" in Asia, including the Taiwan Strait, and stressed that her country does not seek conflict with China, but expects aggressive behavior, while North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast, yesterday, just one day before Harris arrived in Seoul.
Harris spoke yesterday in front of US soldiers in Japan, a day after her participation in the national funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated, and accused Beijing of "disturbing behavior" in the East and South China Seas, and of carrying out "provocations in the Taiwan Strait."
Harris reiterated Washington's opposition to any unilateral Chinese attempt to seize Taiwan, pledging continued US support for the island's defense.
The United States considers peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait to be one of the main pillars of freedom and openness in the Indo-Pacific region.
“We will continue to fly, navigate, and operate without fear or hesitation wherever international law allows,” Harris said.
In her remarks to US soldiers at the Yokozuka Naval Base near Tokyo, Harris accused Russia of "trying to annex the territory of another sovereign country", referring to referendums organized by Moscow in the areas it controls in Ukraine.
Harris also accused North Korea of threatening regional stability by launching new missiles.
This comes at a time when the South Korean military said that North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast.
The launch came two days after South Korean and US forces began military exercises involving an aircraft carrier in waters off South Korea's east coast, where North Korea launched another ballistic missile on Sunday.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the two missiles were launched yesterday from the Sunan area in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea.
The authority added that the two missiles flew 360 kilometers and reached an altitude of 30 kilometers at a maximum speed of 7450 kilometers per hour.
Reported that a detailed analysis is taking place.
"North Korea's provocations will enhance the deterrence and response capabilities of South Korea and the United States, and will only deepen North Korea's isolation from the international community," it said in a statement.
In a separate statement, President Yoon Seok-yeol's office said South Korea's National Security Council held an emergency meeting and condemned the launch and pledged to continue building an "overwhelming" capability to deter North Korea.
North Korea's state media did not report the latest launches, but its leader Kim Jong Un said the development of nuclear weapons and missiles is aimed at defending the country against US threats.
The Japanese Coast Guard also announced a suspected ballistic missile test, which Minister of State for Defense Toshiro Ino called an "unacceptable" act.
"North Korea's actions, including repeated ballistic missile launches, constitute a threat to peace and security in Japan and the regional and international community," he told reporters.
After her visit to Japan, US Vice President Kamla Harris will go to the South Korean capital, Seoul, and visit the demilitarized zone between the two neighbors on Thursday.
South Korean lawmakers said yesterday that North Korea had completed preparations for a nuclear test, possibly between the Chinese Communist Party congress in October and the US midterm elections in November.
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