KOREAN PENINSULA — On September 20 at about 8:54 AM UTC (5:54 PM Japan time), North Korea launched at least one ballistic missile from the vicinity of its east coast toward the northeast, the Japanese Defense Ministry and Cabinet Secretariat said.
The ministry estimated that missile reached a peak altitude of about 43 miles (70 km), flew about 367 miles (590 km), and fell in the Sea of Japan outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, the maritime belt extending up to 200 nautical miles from the coast in which a coastal state holds resource rights. Government notices to nearby aircraft and ships had produced no damage reports at the time of the release.
In a separate launch the same afternoon, at about 6:00 AM UTC (3:00 PM Japan time), North Korea fired at least one ballistic missile from near its east coast toward the northeast, the Japanese Defense Ministry said.
That earlier missile reached about 37 miles (60 km), flew about 273 miles (440 km), and was also estimated to have fallen in the Sea of Japan outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff identified the first firing as a short-range ballistic missile from the Wonsan area that flew about 280 miles (450 km) toward the East Sea, the name Seoul uses for the same body of water.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi issued the same three instructions after each launch: gather and analyze information and brief the public, confirm the safety of aircraft and ships, and hold a full readiness posture.
