Nuclear-armed North Korea said Tuesday its missile launches were training for a strike on US bases in Japan, as global condemnation of the regime swelled.
Three of the four missiles fired Monday came down provocatively close to US ally Japan, in waters that are part of its exclusive economic zone, representing a challenge to US President Donald Trump.
In a phone call, Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe warned that the threat from North Korea had 'entered a new stage.'
Meanwhile, Washington and Seoul have agreed to deploy a US missile defense system called THAAD to South Korea, which has infuriated China, the North's key diplomatic ally and crucial to efforts to persuade it to change its ways.
North Korea news sources showed the country's leader, Kim Jong-Un, smiling and clapping as the nuclear-armed nation launched three missiles in training for a strike on US bases in Japan
Three of the four missiles fired Monday, pictured, came down provocatively close to US ally Japan, in waters that are part of its exclusive economic zone, representing a challenge to US President Donald Trump
Kim Jong-Un, pictured, gave the order for the drill to start, North Korea's official Korea Central News Agency reported. 'Feasting his eyes on the trails of ballistic rockets', he praised the Hwasong artillery unit that carried it out, the government news agency said
The news agency commented said the missiles are 'tasked to strike the bases of the US imperialist aggressor forces in Japan in contingency.' Pictured: The four missiles
'The four ballistic rockets launched simultaneously are so accurate that they look like acrobatic flying corps in formation, he said,' the agency added, referring to Kim. Photographs published by Rodong Sinmun newspaper showed Kim watching the missiles rise into the air
And the UN Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting for Wednesday after a request by Washington and Tokyo to discuss additional measures following the launch.
Under UN resolutions, Pyongyang is barred from any use of ballistic missile technology, and the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, said on Twitter that the world 'won't allow' North Korea to continue on its 'destructive path.'
THADD, or Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, systems are in place in Hawaii and Guam to defense against North Korea but this is the first time the US has deployed one in South Korea, NBC News reported.
Parts of the THAAD system arrived in South Korea by Monday, despite Beijing's proclamation that the US defense system is 'a clear, present and substantive threat to China's security interests.'
The Defense Ministry said the missiles flew about 539 nautical miles after being launched from Tongchang-ri (Sohae Satellite Launching Station). Three missiles fell within Japan's exclusive economic zone (pictured light blue), 188 miles to 215 miles west of the Oga Peninsula
The attack by North Korea comes as global condemnation of the regime swelled. Pictured: A US Air Force reconnaissance aircraft landing at Osan Air Base near Seoul, South Korea, on March 6
On Monday, the US military began deploying an anti-ballistic missile defense system, 'Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense' (THAAD), to South Korea following the attacks. The parts are arriving at Osan US Air Base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul
US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe warned that the threat from North Korea had 'entered a new stage.' Pictured: Abe and Trump at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort on February 11
Trump has described North Korea as a 'big, big problem' and vowed to deal with the issue 'very strongly.'
White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Monday the administration was taking steps to 'enhance our ability to defend against North Korea's ballistic missiles.'
The New York Times reported at the weekend that under former president Barack Obama the US stepped up cyber attacks against North Korea to try to sabotage its missiles before launch or just as they lift off.
Washington and Seoul have agreed to deploy a US missile defense system called THAAD to South Korea, which has infuriated China, the North's key diplomatic ally and crucial to efforts to persuade it to change its way. Pictured: A South Korea news broadcast of the missile test
A television displays news broadcast's infographics reporting on North Korea test-firing ballistic missiles, at a station in Seoul, South Korea, on Monday
UN Security Council scheduled emergency meeting for Wednesday after a request by US and Japan to discuss additional measures following the launch. Under UN resolutions, North Korea is barred from any use of ballistic missile technology. Pictured: NK leader Kim Jong-Un
Six sets of UN sanctions since its first nuclear test in 2006 have failed to halt North Korea's drive for what it insists are defensive weapons. Pictured center: Kim Jong-Un
Six sets of UN sanctions since its first nuclear test in 2006 have failed to halt North Korea's drive for what it insists are defensive weapons.
Kim Jong-Un gave the order for the drill to start, North Korea's official Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
'Feasting his eyes on the trails of ballistic rockets', he praised the Hwasong artillery unit that carried it out, it said.
'The four ballistic rockets launched simultaneously are so accurate that they look like acrobatic flying corps in formation, he said,' the agency added, referring to Kim.
The military units involved are 'tasked to strike the bases of the US imperialist aggressor forces in Japan in contingency', KCNA said.
But a US defense official said that North Korea had launched five extended-range Scud missiles on Monday, with one crashing somewhere over the Korean peninsula.
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