UPDATE 3 - North Korea fires 2 ballistic missiles toward East Sea

ADDS US INDO-PACIFIC COMMAND'S STATEMENT

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) - North Korea fired two ballistic missiles Tuesday toward the East Sea, marking its second such launch this year, the Japanese and South Korean governments confirmed.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on the US social media company X’s platform that North Korea launched two ballistic missiles.

Following the launches, the government immediately convened an emergency response team at the Prime Minister's Office to gather information on the situation.

The Japan Coast Guard said the projectiles had already fallen into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan.

Takaichi's office urged authorities to make maximum efforts to gather and analyze information, keep the public informed promptly, ensure the safety of aircraft and vessels, and take all possible precautionary measures, including readiness for contingencies, it added.

Tokyo also condemned Pyongyang over the missile launches, noting that they violate UN Security Council resolutions, according to Kyodo news agency.

The South Korean military also said that it detected the launch of multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Tuesday, Yonhap news agency reported.

- US 'aware' of missile launches, consulting 'closely' with allies, partners

The missiles flew about 350 kilometers (217 miles), the military said, adding that South Korean and US authorities were analyzing the details of the launches.

Seoul’s presidential office condemned the missile launches, calling it “a provocative act that violates UN Security Council resolutions."

It urged Pyongyang to "immediately cease" such actions.

Separately, US Forces Korea said it is “aware of the missile launches and are consulting closely with our allies and partners."

"The United States remains committed to the defense of the U.S. homeland and our allies in the region," it said on X.

US Indo-Pacific Command said that based on current assessments, the event does not pose an "immediate threat" to US personnel or territory or to its allies.

It marked the second time that Pyongyang has fired projectiles since Jan. 4, when North Korea fired ballistic missiles in the same direction as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung was preparing to travel to Beijing for summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

- China says it is moving steel platform in Yellow Sea

Separately, China said Monday that it is moving a steel platform built in the overlapping waters of the Yellow Sea with South Korea.

“We have learned that a Chinese company is moving the platform, which is an adjustment made by the company itself to meet the needs of its operation,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news conference in Beijing.

“China and the ROK (South Korea) are neighbors across the sea, and the two sides are in close communication on maritime issues to properly manage differences and promote mutually beneficial cooperation,” he added.

The remarks came as South Korea and China are in talks to resolve issues regarding China's establishment of three steel towers in the overlapping sea zone.

Following a summit meeting in Beijing with Chinese President Xi, South Korean President Lee said that China was expected to remove one of the steel platforms from the Yellow Sea.

*Diyar Guldogan from Washington, DC contributed to this report