The ballistic missiles North Korea has fired at Japan in recent weeks were only part of a tactical nuclear exercise, the regime said. This was reported by the national news agency KCNA on Monday, according to Reuters news agency. According to the North Koreans, the missiles, which were fired under the supervision and direction of Kim Jong-un, have now come to an end — and because they flew over Japan, they have sparked strong international reactions.
Since September 25, North Korea has fired a total of seven ballistic missiles. They would have ended up in the sea, outside Japanese territorial waters. Japan’s Defense Minister Toshiro Ino said the projectiles reached a height of 100 kilometers last weekend and covered some 350 kilometers. Neighboring countries South Korea and Japan have strongly condemned the tests, as has the United States. In response, the three countries themselves conducted missile tests, as well as precision bombing in the sea.
Through North Korean state channels, Kim made it clear that he had no desire to talk to other countries. Earlier, the government in Pyongyang called the missile tests necessary for “self-defense” against South Korean and American military threats. North Korea says the launches did not endanger the security of nearby countries and regions. In Japan, civilians were called to the air raid shelters when the first rocket flew over the country.