Tokyo Confirms North Korean Ballistic Missiles Landed in Japanese Waters

The developments come as North Korea has intensified its ballistic missile programme and test-fired multiple projectiles over the course of a week.

Japan's Defence Ministry stated on 15 September that two ballistic missiles launched by North Korea earlier in the day had landed inside Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), NHK reports, citing officials as saying. The Japanese authorities previously said the missiles fell outside the EEZ.

NHK suggests this is the first time since 2019 that missiles have landed in the Japanese EEZ.

Earlier in the day, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement that North Korea had fired two ballistic missiles towards the exclusive economic zone of Japan. Following the incident, both Seoul and Tokyo announced they would urgently convene their National Security Councils.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on 13 September that Pyongyang had carried out a successful test of a cruise missile. North Korean experts reportedly held thrust tests for missile engines on the ground, flight tests, control and guidance tests, and a number of others. The said missiles are reportedly capable of hitting targets at a distance of 1,500 kilometres.