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North Korea fires ballistic missiles into sea

North Korea has launched four ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan, creating the possibility of a ‘new stage of threat’. The South Korean military have said that the missiles were fired from the Tongchang-ri region, near the North's border with China, despite the North being currently banned from any missile or nuclear tests by the United Nations. The exact type of missile fired is not immediately clear, but South Korea’s military said it was unlikely that they were intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), which have the range to reach the US. US State Department acting spokesperson Mark Toner said in a statement: "The United States strongly condemns the DPRK's ballistic missile launches tonight, which violate UN Security Council Resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea's launches using ballistic missile technology.” Shinzo Abe, Japanese Prime Minister, said: “The latest launches of ballistic missiles clearly demonstrate evidence of a new threat from North Korea. The launches are clearly in violation of [UN] security council resolutions. It is an extremely dangerous action.” Boris Johnson, UK Foreign Secretary, said: "The UK firmly condemns North Korea’s latest ballistic missile launches. These are in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions. We are working with international partners, including in the UN Security Council, of which the UK currently holds the Presidency. "We urge North Korea to stop its provocative actions, which threaten international peace and security. North Korea should instead re-engage with the international community, and take credible, concrete steps to prioritise the well-being of its own people instead of the illegal pursuit of its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes."

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