North Korea launches ballistic missiles towards Sea of Japan (East Sea)

This Japanese MoD graphic shows the estimated launch site and trajectory of North Korean missiles fired on 5 June. The MoD said it detected the launch of at least six ballistic missiles, all of which landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. (Japan MoD)

North Korea launched a series of ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan (East Sea) on 5 June, defence officials in South Korea and Japan have said. It represents Pyongyang's 18th missile-launch event in 2022 and what is thought to be its largest number of launches on a single day.

The Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD) and the Republic of Korea (RoK) Armed Forces' Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said they detected that the missiles were launched from various locations in North Korea over a period of 40 minutes from about 0900 h local time. The US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) also said it detected “multiple ballistic missile launches” from North Korea.

According to the JCS, the short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) were launched from Sunan in Pyongyang; Kaechon, 107 km north of the capital city; Tongchang-ri, in the northwest of North Korea; and in Hamhung near the east coast. It said that the missiles flew between 100 km and 670 km and altitudes of between 25 km and 90 km.

The Japanese MoD said that it detected the launch of “at least six ballistic missiles” and that all fell outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. However, the MoD added that all the missiles flew between 300 km and 400 km, and at altitudes of between 50 km and 100 km. The MoD also said it detected other possible launches but that it couldn't confirm details.