North Korea launches 3 ballistic missiles toward Japan

North Korea test-launched three ballistic missiles toward Japan on Monday, coinciding with the final day of the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China. "This is Pyongyang's way of reminding everyone of their existence at a moment when all the parties are together, in a typically defiant, North Korean way," John Delury, an assistant professor at Yonsei University in South Korea, told CNN.

The Rodong-class mid-range missiles traveled about 620 miles from Hwangju to land 155 miles west of Japan's northernmost major island, Hokkaido. "Looking at the fact that the three missiles have landed on almost the same spot at almost the same time, I think their missile technology has substantially improved," Japan's Defense Minister Tomomi Inada said, adding that the test was a "serious threat."

Last month, a North Korean submarine-launched ballistic missile test entered Japan's air defense identification zone for the first time; Monday's launch also entered the identification zone.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up