North Korea fires ballistic missiles toward East Sea; Seoul and Tokyo respond
In short
Japan's Defense Ministry said on 29 October that North Korea launched an object that may be a ballistic missile, which appears to have fallen outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected about 10 short-range ballistic missiles fired from the Wonsan area around 12:30 into the East Sea. Cheong Wa Dae's National Security Office held an emergency meeting and urged North Korea to stop at once.
Read the full story 2 min read
Japan's Defense Ministry said on 29 October that North Korea had launched an object that may be a ballistic missile, and added that it appeared to have fallen outside Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Yonhap flashed the announcement at 12:48. The Japanese government said it was collecting and analysing information to determine the effect on Japanese ships and other interests. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 10 , 11 ]
The Japan Coast Guard said that as of 12:55 no damage to ships had been confirmed. Newsis, citing NHK, reported that the coast guard told ships under way to watch for further information, and asked anyone who finds fallen objects not to approach them and to report them. Japan set up a crisis management center at the prime minister's office and urgently convened officials from the relevant ministries. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (高市早苗) instructed ministries to make every effort to collect and analyse information, give the public prompt and accurate information and thoroughly check aircraft and ship safety. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (木原稔) said the government was checking information, including on any damage in Japan, and Japanese media said there were no reports of damage at that point. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 10 , 11 ]
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea fired an unidentified projectile toward the East Sea on the afternoon of 29 October and that it was analysing the specifications and range. A later account of the Joint Chiefs' statement said its forces detected about 10 short-range ballistic missiles fired from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea around 12:30. [ 2 , 5 , 9 , 14 ]
Cheong Wa Dae's National Security Office then held an emergency security situation review meeting, attended by the Defense Ministry, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other agencies. According to a Cheong Wa Dae press release cited by Seoul Economic Daily and SBS, the office reviewed South Korea's response and assessed the effect of the launch on security. It asked officials to be thorough in taking necessary measures. It said North Korea's repeated ballistic missile launches violate UN Security Council resolutions and do not help manage the current situation at all, and it urged North Korea to stop them immediately. [ 8 , 9 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]
NHK said the Defense Ministry's announcement came 17 days after 12 October, when North Korea last launched a ballistic or possible ballistic missile. South Korean outlets described the latest launch as coming about two weeks after 12 October. On that date North Korea fired at least two ballistic missiles, which Japan's Defense Ministry estimated had fallen outside Japan's EEZ. One outlet said they were fired from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea. [ 4 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 13 , 14 ]
Why it matters
The launch came about two weeks after North Korea's previous ballistic missile launch on 12 October, and the South Korean National Security Office called repeated launches a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. Both Japan and South Korea convened emergency responses, and Japanese reports said no damage had been confirmed at that point.
Key facts
- Japan's Defense Ministry said on 29 October that North Korea launched an object that may be a ballistic missile. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 10 , 11 ]
- The object appears to have fallen outside Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). [ 2 , 5 , 10 , 11 ]
- South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected about 10 short-range ballistic missiles fired from the Wonsan area into the East Sea around 12:30 on 29 October. [ 9 , 14 ]
- As of 12:55, the Japan Coast Guard had confirmed no damage to ships. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 10 , 11 ]
- Cheong Wa Dae's National Security Office held an emergency security meeting with the Defense Ministry and Joint Chiefs of Staff among the attendees. [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]
- The National Security Office urged North Korea to stop at once, saying repeated ballistic missile launches violate UN Security Council resolutions. [ 8 , 9 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]
- According to NHK, the Defense Ministry's announcement came 17 days after 12 October, the date of North Korea's previous ballistic missile launch. [ 4 , 10 , 11 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Japan's Defense Ministry announced that North Korea launched an object that may be a ballistic missile, estimated to have fallen outside Japan's EEZ. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 10 , 11 ]
- The Japan Coast Guard had confirmed no ship damage as of 12:55. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 10 , 11 ]
- Japan set up a crisis management center at the prime minister's office and convened ministry officials. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 10 , 11 ]
- South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported a North Korean launch toward the East Sea on 29 October. [ 2 , 5 , 9 , 14 ]
- Cheong Wa Dae's National Security Office held an emergency security meeting and called on North Korea to stop its ballistic missile launches immediately. [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]
Still unclear
- What type of missile was launched and its range Japan described the object as possibly a ballistic missile; the Joint Chiefs of Staff first called it an unidentified projectile and was analysing its specifications and range.
- How many missiles were fired The figure of about 10 comes from South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff as relayed by South Korean outlets; the Japanese reports cited do not give a number.
- Where the launched objects fell Japan's estimate is that they fell outside its EEZ; no document gives a confirmed landing point.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected about 10 short-range ballistic missiles fired from the Wonsan area into the East Sea. [ 9 , 14 ]
- Yonhap flashed the Japanese Defense Ministry's statement that North Korea launched an object possibly a ballistic missile. [ 1 ]
- The Japan Coast Guard said it had confirmed no ship damage as of this time. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 10 , 11 ]
- Newsis reported that Cheong Wa Dae held an emergency security meeting and urged North Korea to stop. [ 6 , 8 ]
- Yonhap reported that the National Security Office was holding an emergency security meeting. [ 7 ]