TOKYO, Feb 20 (Reuters) - North Korea launched two more ballistic missiles off its east coast on Monday, with the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un saying Pyongyang’s use of the Pacific as its “firing range” would depend on the behaviour of U.S. forces.
The launches come just two days after North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the sea off Japan’s west coast, prompting the United States to hold joint air exercises with South Korea and separately with Japan on Sunday.
North Korea’s state media confirmed it fired two projectiles from a multiple rocket launcher, aiming at targets 395 km (245 miles) and 337 km (209 miles) away, respectively.
“The 600mm multiple rocket launcher mobilised in the firing… is a means of tactical nuclear weapon,” capable of “paralysing” an enemy airfield, state news agency KCNA said.
Japan’s Defense Ministry said the two missiles, launched around 2200 GMT, reached a maximum altitude of about 100 km and 50 km, and fell outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. …continue reading