N. Korea Fires 3 Ballistic Missiles toward Sea of Japan

On Saturday, Japan's Defense Ministry said North Korea fired three ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan, the latest in a series of weapons tests that have raised regional tensions.

The ministry reported that the missiles, which were launched around 8 a.m. from the outskirts of the capital, Pyongyang, flew about 350 km at a maximum altitude of nearly 100 km before falling near the eastern coast of the Korean Peninsula.

This is the 37th time that North Korea has launched missiles in 2022, renewing the highest level ever in a year. The last launch took place on December 23rd.

According to the defence ministry, the missiles appeared to have fallen outside Japan's exclusive economic zone, and there were no reports of damage to aircraft or ships.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed officials to urgently provide necessary information to the public, ensure the safety of aircraft and ships and prepare for emergencies, according to his office.

The government lodged a protest with North Korea via the Japanese embassy in Beijing over the recent launches, in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The US Indo-Pacific Command explained that the action by Pyongyang, whose official name is the DPRK, does not pose a direct threat to US personnel or territory, or to Japan and other allies.

"The missile launches highlight the destabilizing impact of the DPRK's unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs," it said in a statement, in reference to weapons of mass destruction.