North Korea's trajectory-shifting missile poses challenge to Japan

Weapons appear capable of evading radar and interceptors

North Korea launched missiles during this drill in May 2019. Projectiles fired Sept. 15 had similar specifications, according to the Japanese government. © Reuters

JUNNOSUKE KOBARA, Nikkei security affairs editor

September 17, 2021 05:43 JST

TOKYO -- The short-range ballistic missiles tested by North Korea on Wednesday took irregular paths rather than typical ballistic trajectories, a development that stands to complicate Japanese efforts to track and even intercept such weapons.

The Japan Coast Guard said at 12:39 p.m. -- minutes after the launches -- that the two missiles fell outside the nation's exclusive economic zone in the Sea of Japan. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said around 1:30 that the missiles were "presumed" outside the EEZ.