The apparent site of the missile firing - a shipyard in Sinpo - is a major defense industry hub where North Korea focuses its submarine production. A strong South Korean response could anger North Korea, which has accused Seoul of hypocrisy for criticizing the NorthвЂ™s weapons tests while expanding its own conventional military capabilities. South Korean officials held a national security council meeting and expressed вЂњdeep regretвЂќ over the launch occurring despite efforts to revive diplomacy. He said the missile didnвЂ™t breach JapanвЂ™s exclusive economic zone set outside its territorial waters. Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said one of the North Korean missiles reached a maximum altitude of 50 kilometers (30 miles) and flew on вЂњan irregular trajectoryвЂќ while traveling as far as 600 kilometers (360 miles). вЂњWe cannot overlook North KoreaвЂ™s recent development in missile technology and its impact on the security of Japan and in the region,вЂќ he said. He ordered his government to start revising the countryвЂ™s national security strategy to adapt to growing North Korean threats, including the possible development of the ability to pre-emptively strike North Korean military targets. Kishida interrupted a campaign trip ahead of Japanese legislative elections later this month and returned to Tokyo because of the launch. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said officials were examining whether they were submarine-launched. JapanвЂ™s military said its initial analysis suggested that North Korea fired two ballistic missiles.

The South Korean military said the launch was made at sea, but it didnвЂ™t say whether it was fired from a vessel underwater or another launch platform above the seaвЂ™s surface.

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