ALARMS blared from cell phones radios public loud speakers and fishermen hurried back to shore in nor them japan on Thursday after North korea fired an intercontinental bal listic missile above its eastern waters adding to a recent bar rage of provocative weapons demonstration that officials say may culminate with a nuclear test in coming weeks.
The ICBM test which was followed by two short range bal listic launcher into the sea was swiftly condemned by North korea's neigh hours and the United states which said it is willing to ensure the safe try of america homeland and allies south korea and japan.
The biden administration also warned of unspecified additional costs and consequences if north korea goeson to detonate a nuclear test device for the first time since September 2007.
Hours after the launchers north korea threatened to retaliate over a decision by the south korean and US Militaries to extend large scale joint aerial exercises in response to the North increased testing activity.
Senior north Korean military official pak jong chon their irrevocable and awful mistake but did not specify what the north would do in response. The launchers are the latest in series of north Korean weapons tests recent months that have raised tensions in the region. They came a day after the north fired more than 20 missiles the most it has launched in a single day ever.
South koreas joint chiefts of staff said it detected that north korea fired an ICBM from an area near its capital pyongyang at about 7:40 am and the two short range minsiles an hour later from the nearly city of kaechon that flew toward its eastern waters.
The longer-range missile appeared to be fired at a high angle possibly to avoid entering the territory of neigh hours reaching a maximum altitude of 1,920 kilometers and travelling around 760 kilometres according to south korea's military