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North Korea launched a missile into the sea off the east coast shortly after a US aircraft carrier arrived in the region.
Reuters reported on Saturday that North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan, but details about the trajectory of the missile were not available.
The launch comes just days before a visit by Vice President Kamala Harris next week as the US aircraft carrier arrives in South Korea to participate in joint exercises with South Korean forces.
North Korea has tested more than 30 ballistic missiles so far this year, including the first launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile since 2017.
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In a statement, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said it was “aware of the ballistic missile launch and is in close consultation with allies and partners.” “Although we have determined that this event poses no immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory or to our allies, the missile launch highlights the destabilizing effects of North Korea’s illegal weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. Korea and Japan remain impregnable.”
The USS Ronald Reagan and its accompanying strike group ships arrived at a naval base in Busan on Friday ahead of a joint exercise with South Korean forces.
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The strike group commander, Rear Admiral Michael Donnelly, told reporters on board the ship that the visit was intended to establish alliances and increase interoperability between the navies.
When asked about sending messages to North Korea, Donnelly said, “We leave messages to diplomats.” He added that joint training will ensure the allies are ready to respond to any threat.
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Vice President Harris is scheduled to visit the region next week to meet with Japanese and South Korean leaders on a trip focused on Taiwan’s security.
Landon Mion of Reuters and Fox News contributed to this report.