US Says North Korean Missile Launch Poses No Immediate Threat

The United States has said North Korea’s latest ballistic missile launches posed no immediate threat to US territory, personnel or its allies.

North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles from its eastern coastal city of Wonsan on Saturday, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The missiles travelled about 250 kilometres towards North Korea’s eastern waters, with the launches coming a day after the United States, South Korea and Japan concluded a five-day trilateral military exercise.

The US Pacific Command said the launches did not pose an immediate threat to US territory or its allies, while reaffirming Washington’s commitment to defending the US homeland and its partners in the region.

South Korea said it had strengthened its surveillance posture and was closely sharing information on the launches with the United States and Japan.

The South Korean presidential National Security Council urged North Korea to stop ballistic missile launches, describing them as violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The launches followed the conclusion of the Freedom Edge military exercise involving the US, South Korea and Japan.

The three countries said the exercise was defensive and designed to strengthen their ability to respond to North Korean nuclear threats. North Korea, however, has repeatedly condemned such exercises as provocations.

The latest launches are North Korea’s first reported ballistic missile tests in about three weeks and come as Pyongyang continues to expand its weapons capabilities.