North Korea launches two more missiles into their ‘firing range’ in the Pacific.

SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea fired two additional ballistic missiles off its east coast on Monday, with leader Kim Jong Un’s influential sister declaring North Korea’s use of the Pacific as a “firing range” will be contingent on US troop behaviour.

The launches came only two days after North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the sea off Japan’s west coast, leading the US to conduct joint air drills with South Korea and Japan on Sunday.

North Korea’s official media acknowledged the launch of two missiles from a multiple rocket launcher, aimed at targets 395 kilometres (245 miles) and 337 kilometres (209 miles) distant.

According to North Korea’s KCNA official news agency, “the 600 mm multiple rocket launcher used in the shooting… is a tactical nuclear weapon capable of “paralysing” an enemy airport.

Experts believe leader Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jongwarning ,’s about the Pacific being a North Korean firing range might signify preparations to launch additional missiles farther, potentially towards the US island of Guam.

According to Japan’s defence ministry, the two missiles fired on Monday about 2200 GMT reached maximum altitudes of around 100 km and 50 km.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he has sought an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the tests, and Jiji news agency reported the meeting was scheduled for 2000 GMT.

Nevertheless, given Russia and China’s prior vetoes during the Ukrainian crisis and a Sino-US quarrel over a Chinese balloon in US sky, the odds for a fresh round of UN penalties are bleak.

The South Korean military called the rockets a “grave provocation” that should be stopped immediately. According Korea President Yoon Suk-office, yeol’s a National Security Council meeting was conducted to assess the tests and develop countermeasures.

South Korea’s foreign ministry sanctioned four persons and five businesses associated to North Korea’s nuclear programmes in reaction to the recent ICBM and missile tests, calling it the country’s quickest response to the North’s provocations.

The ministry claimed its nuclear envoy held phone discussions with his U.S. and Japanese colleagues during which they agreed that North Korea’s provocations cannot be justified and it will suffer “consequences of self-indulgence”.

The US Indo-Pacific Command emphasised the “destabilising consequences” of North Korea’s illegal weapons programmes, while UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric asked Pyongyang to stop such provocations, which are prohibited by Security Council resolutions, and to begin denuclearization talks.

TENSIONS ARE RISING

After joint air exercises with Asian partners over the weekend, North Korean leader Kim’s sister cautioned against expanded deployment of US strategic military assets.

“The regularity with which we use the Pacific as a fire range is determined on the action type of US troops,” she said in a statement quoted by KCNA.

This week, the US and South Korea will conduct simulated nuclear tabletop exercises intended at enhancing the functioning of US nuclear assets, as well as the annual springtime Freedom Shield field training in March.

North Korea’s foreign ministry warned last week it will react to the drills with “unprecedentedly relentless, robust counteractions”.

“Tension on the peninsula is expected to reach a climax in the next months as North Korea accelerates its military measures with greater regularity,” said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

Hong Min, a senior expert at the Korea Institute for National Unification in the South, believes Kim’s reference of the Pacific suggests the North would launch longer-range missiles more often.

The North’s missile launch on Monday marks its third known weapons test this year, after an unprecedented number of missile launches last year, including ICBMs capable of reaching anywhere in the United States.

Kim Yo Jong also slammed certain South Korean scientists who questioned the dependability of the ICBMs stating Saturday’s “sudden” test needed nine hours of preparations, calling them “disgusting” and “dumb”.

According to her, the launch occurred “at the most acceptable moment” given the weather circumstances and after US and South Korean scout aircraft had left.

“Rather than questioning or worrying about other people’s technologies, they should rack their brains to adopt steps to safeguard themselves,” she added. “We reiterate our determination to ensure the worst maniacs who are increasing tensions pay the price for their actions.”