By Oyintari Ben
In reaction to North Korea’s firing of a ballistic missile over Japan, South Korea and the US military launched a barrage of missiles into the sea, Seoul reported on Wednesday, as Pyongyang’s longest-range test yet attracted international condemnation.
Tuesday’s intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) launch by nuclear-armed North Korea sent it soaring over Japan for the first time in five years, prompting a warning for locals to seek shelter.
According to Wednesday’s statement from South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, South Korean and American forces responded by staging their missile drill.
According to a statement, each side launched two American-made ATACMS short-range ballistic missiles.
A South Korean Hyunmoo-2 missile failed shortly after launch and crashed, although there were no casualties, according to a separate military confirmation.
The European Union called the North Korean test a “reckless and deliberately provocative action,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denounced the launch and said it violated Security Council resolutions. US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the test in the “strongest terms.”
Although diplomats reported that China and Russia are opposed to the 15-member council holding a public discussion on North Korea, the United States requested that the UN Security Council convene on the matter on Wednesday.
