In what has become an increasingly common occurrence, North Korea attempted to launch two more ballistic missiles in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions barring such tests.
(FOX)- One of the two No Dong intermediate range missiles exploded shortly after takeoff Wednesday morning.
The other missile flew over North Korea and into the Sea of Japan according to the U.S. military’s Strategic Command which tracks missile launches around the world.
Both missiles were were launched simultaneously according to a statement from Stratcom, which said the missiles did “not post a threat to North Korea.”
The launches have already drawn a strong rebuke from Japan. Its defense ministry said one missile landed within its 200-mile economic zone surrounding the country.
Japan’s prime minister called North Korea’s actions an “unforgivable act of violence.” The U.S. military has thousands of personnel stationed in Japan.
The latest North Korean missile tests came a month after the U.S. and South Korea agreed to deploy an advanced anti-missile system to South Korea. North Korea strongly objected, vowing a “physical response.”
The new THAAD missile system is not supposed to be operational in South Korea until the end of 2017. China has also voiced its displeasure with the move.