North Korea launched four missiles from its rocket-launch site early Monday morning local time, according to the South Korean military. The test happened while the U.S. and South Korea were doing their annual joint military exercise. North Korea often retaliates to these joint exercises—they seem that as practice runs for invading North Korea—with missile tests.
According to officials, the missiles made it about 620 miles before going into the sea between North Korea and Japan. North Korea had previously threatened to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles, but South Korea’s military spokesman said it was unlikely that these were them, but he wasn’t sure what they were.
The United States and South Korea have an agreement called Thaad, the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense, which would protect South Korean and American sites from possible missiles coming from North Korea. However, China takes issue with the agreement, saying that it would interfere with their nuclear interests, and as much has threatened South Korea’s economy.
Japan responded to the test and called it a threat to their security.
