North Korea Fires Short-Range Ballistic Missiles Into Sea Of Japan
North Korea has fired several short-range missiles into the Sea of Japan off its east coast, South Korea's military says.
The South Korean Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said on August 26 that the projectiles flew about 250 kilometers into the sea.
The U.S. Pacific Command said it detected three short-range ballistic missiles that appeared to have either failed in flight or exploded almost immediately.
The U.S. military said the missiles were not aimed at the U.S. Pacific island territory of Guam. Pyongyang recently threatened to launch missiles aimed near Guam, prompting a promise of retaliation from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Japan's NHK broadcaster said the missiles did not appear to threaten Japan's safety.
The launch came during an annual joint military exercise by the United States and South Korea that the North has denounced as a rehearsal for invasion.
The launch is the first by the North since its test of a ballistic missile on July 28 that analysts concluded was designed to reach parts of the U.S. mainland.
The earlier test drove up tensions and prompted the United Nations Security Council to impose harsh new economic sanctions on Pyongyang.
