North Korea fires ballistic missile off its east coast, South Korea's military says
(VOVWORLD) - North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast on Monday morning, South Korea's military said, the latest in a series of launches as a US aircraft carrier is set to arrive in South Korea.
 A North Korea flag flutters next to concertina wire at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia March 9, 2017. (Photo: REUTERS) |
The missiles were fired from North Hwanghae province and flew about 370 kilometres, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.
Both missiles appear to have landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone, the Japanese government said.
Monday's launches came as the US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and ships from its accompanying strike group are scheduled to dock at a South Korean naval base in the southeastern port city of Busan on Tuesday.
South Korea's military "strongly condemned" the North's repeated missile launches as a grave provocation violating United Nations Security Council resolutions, and called for an immediate halt.
The Japanese government lodged a "strong protest" with North Korea, saying its missile launches threaten the safety and peace of Japan, the region and the international community.