Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has requested an urgent United Nations Security Council session in response to North Korea's recent ballistic missile test launches. The Japanese government has expressed the need for close cooperation with the United States and South Korea on this issue.
North Korea Launches Ballistic Missiles
According to the Japanese Defense Ministry, North Korea launched two ballistic missiles early Monday, covering distances of 350 and 400 kilometers at altitudes of 50 and 100 kilometers. Previous reports indicated that three missiles were fired, but the Japanese Defense Ministry has confirmed only two.
Missiles Fall Outside Japan's Economic Zone
The Kyodo news agency reported that the two missiles fell outside Japan's exclusive economic zone and that there were no reports of damage to aircraft or ships. On February 18th, North Korea also fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, which landed in the sea within Japan's exclusive economic zone, about 200 kilometers west of the island of Hokkaido.