North Korea again tested two intermediate range ballistic missiles on Tuesday evening, with the presumed Musudan missiles falling into the Sea of Japan. US Strategic Command said it tracked the two launches at Wonsan at 3:56 p.m. and 6:03 p.m. Central Daylight Time. The missiles did not pose a threat to North America, STRATCOM said. The launch immediately drew condemnation from the international community. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement that the launches are in direct violation of several UN Security Council Resolutions, and are a part of “repeated provocative actions” that undermine international security. North Korea has repeatedly tested missiles this year as the US and South Korea discuss the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile system to protect from potential North Korean threats.
U.S. Air Force F-35s and F-22s regularly deploy deep into the Pacific region from Alaska, Utah, and Hawaii. In the future, though, the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command would like to see the Air Force permanently station fifth-generation aircraft west of the international date line—closer to China.