Japan protests North Korea missile launches

North Korea test-launched three missiles today that landed in the Sea of Japan and Tokyo has ”strongly protested” the move, Japan’s chief government spokesman said.

The North launched three missiles before dawn (Wednesday, their time) and all landed in the Sea of Japan, which lies between Japan and the Korean Peninsula, said Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe.

Abe said the government was trying to confirm what kind of missiles were launched, and was unable to confirm reports that a long-range Taepodong-2 missile had been fired.

In Washington, however, two US State Department officials said one of the three missiles was the long-range Taepodong-2 missile.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the missile failed after 35 or 40 seconds. Experts believe a Taepodong 2 could reach the US with a light payload,

Japan’s Kyodo news agency said two of the missiles were believed to be mid-range Rodong missiles and landed about 300 miles off the western coast of Japan’s Hokkaido Island.

A Pentagon official, who spoke only on condition of anonymity, identified two of them as Scuds.

“North Korea has gone ahead with the launch despite international protest,” Abe said. “That is regrettable from the standpoint of Japan’s security, the stability of international society, and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.”

He said Tokyo “sternly protested” the launches.

Abe added there were no reports the missiles caused damage within Japanese territory. The government was checking whether any missile parts had reached Japan, he said.

The government set up a task force early Wednesday to guide Japan’s response and would hold a security meeting at 7am tomorrow.