North Korea launched a second projectile toward the Sea of Japan, three hours after the first / Seoul and Tokyo protest

North Korea launched two projectiles toward the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, several hours apart on Sunday, according to the South Korean military. The launches took place amid regional tensions and prompted immediate reactions from South Korea and Japan.

The first launch was detected at around 15:00 local time from the Wonsan region. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff identified the projectile as a short-range ballistic missile that had apparently traveled approximately 450 kilometers. Japan’s Ministry of Defense also said that it appeared to have been a ballistic missile.

Approximately three hours after the first test, Pyongyang launched a second projectile, the nature of which was not immediately established. If it proves to be a ballistic missile, North Korea will have conducted two consecutive tests within a three-hour period.

South Korea, the United States, and Japan exchanged information, while authorities in Seoul convened an emergency meeting to assess the impact on national security. The South Korean government called on Pyongyang to stop the tests, describing the launch as a “serious violation” of UN resolutions. Japan issued a strong protest and denounced the action as a threat to regional peace and security.