South Korea says North Korea launched ballistic missiles from Pyongyang area
In short
North Korea fired several ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea on October 12, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said. Some flew more than 900 kilometers, while South Korean and U.S. authorities were analyzing their precise specifications.
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North Korea launched several ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea on October 12, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said. The military detected the launches at about 09:20. Some of the missiles flew more than 900 kilometers, and South Korean and U.S. authorities were conducting detailed analysis of their specifications. [ 6 , 11 , 39 ]
Early reports described an unidentified projectile, but subsequent military announcements identified several ballistic missiles. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said surveillance and readiness had been strengthened in preparation for additional launches. It said South Korea, the United States and Japan were closely sharing information about the missiles and maintaining readiness. [ 6 , 8 , 14 , 21 , 23 ]
Japan's Defense Ministry reported launches of suspected ballistic missiles at about 09:20 and 09:40, according to Newsis. The projectiles were believed to have already fallen outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. Japan's coast guard said no damage to vessels had been confirmed as of 10:00. The Japanese government convened an emergency team to gather information and check for damage. [ 32 ]
South Korea's presidential national security office held an emergency meeting with the Defense Ministry, Joint Chiefs of Staff and other agencies to review readiness and the security situation, Hankook Ilbo reported. The office called North Korea's repeated ballistic-missile launches violations of U.N. Security Council resolutions and urged an immediate halt. [ 6 ]
The launches came nine days after North Korea fired a missile from the Wonsan area on October 3, and four days after South Korea disclosed its first domestic hypersonic glide-vehicle test. A Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson said the initial assessment was that North Korea was displaying military capability in response to South Korea's successful test and demonstrating progress under its five-year defense-development plan. The military's analysis was continuing. [ 8 , 37 , 40 ]
Why it matters
South Korea's military said it strengthened surveillance and readiness for additional launches while sharing information with the United States and Japan. South Korea's presidential national security office urged North Korea to stop, calling the launches violations of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
Key facts
- South Korea's military detected several ballistic missiles launched from the Pyongyang area at about 09:20 on October 12. [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 11 , 30 , 40 ]
- Some of the detected missiles flew more than 900 kilometers, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. [ 6 , 11 , 37 , 39 ]
- South Korean and U.S. authorities were analyzing the missiles' precise specifications. [ 6 , 8 , 11 , 37 , 40 ]
- Japan reported suspected ballistic-missile launches at about 09:20 and 09:40. [ 32 , 40 ]
- Japan said the suspected projectiles appeared to have fallen outside its exclusive economic zone. [ 17 , 24 , 32 , 34 ]
- Japan's coast guard said no damage to vessels had been confirmed as of 10:00. [ 32 , 34 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- North Korea launched several ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea on October 12. [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 21 , 30 , 40 ]
- South Korea's military detected launches at about 09:20. [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 11 , 40 ]
- Some missiles flew more than 900 kilometers. [ 6 , 11 , 37 , 39 ]
- Japan reported suspected projectiles falling outside its exclusive economic zone. [ 17 , 24 , 32 , 34 ]
- South Korea, the United States and Japan were sharing information on the launches. [ 6 , 8 , 31 , 33 , 36 ]
Still unclear
- The missiles' precise types and specifications. South Korean and U.S. authorities were still analyzing the missiles; Newsis reported that South Korea had not specified their range classification.
- The exact number launched. South Korea described several missiles, while Japan reported suspected launches at two times; Newsis characterized two successive missiles as an estimate.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- South Korea detected ballistic missiles launched from the Pyongyang area. [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Japan reported another suspected ballistic-missile launch. [ 32 , 40 ]
- Japan's coast guard had confirmed no damage to vessels by this time. [ 32 , 34 ]
- Yonhap reported the military's statement that missiles flew more than 900 kilometers and were undergoing detailed analysis. [ 25 ]