North Korea fires ballistic missiles in latest tests amid tension

Japanese official reported that the missiles travelled 400km (250 miles) and at a maximum altitude of 50km (30 miles)

North Korea has fired two short-range ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang area towards the country’s east coast, according to South Korean and Japanese officials, marking Pyongyang’s fourth missile test launch in a week, Qazet.az reports.

Japan’s NHK national television said multiple missiles were fired from North Korea on Saturday morning and were believed to have landed in the Sea of Japan, though outside of Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

“What appears to be a ballistic missile was launched from North Korea,” the Japanese coastguard said in a statement issued at 6:47am (21:47 GMT) local time on Saturday.

In a second statement issued about 15 minutes later, the coastguard said another apparent ballistic missile was launched.

NHK said the projectiles seemed to have fallen outside Japan’s exclusive economic zones, citing government sources.

The office of Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida tweeted that the latest missile launch was being analysed and instructions issued for the safety of people, aircraft and vessels.