U.S. military forces detected and tracked two North Korean missiles launched over the Sea of Japan Wednesday, which, in typical North Korean fashion, ended up falling out of the sky.
Pentagon officials said the two missiles were likely Musudan intermediate range ballistic missiles. Both traveled approximately 250 miles before falling into the sea. The Musudan is believed to have a range of 1,500 to 2,500 miles when working properly.
“The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) determined the missile launches from North Korea did not pose a threat to North America,” said a press release from U.S. Strategic Command, the military command in charge of monitoring weapons of mass destruction.
Japanese officials warned of the possibility of a missile launch earlier Tuesday and put military forces on high alert.
While the Musudan does not have the range needed to threaten the U.S., its larger cousin, the KN-08, is believed to have such a capability. Arms expert Jeffrey Lewis of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, told the Wall Street Journal he believes the KN-08 engines match that of the Musudan.
“The North Koreans are making progress toward a workable Musudan. If we do nothing, they will move on to a missile, using the same technology, that can reach the U.S.,” Lewis told The Wall Street Journal.
Both the Musudan and KN-08 are theoretically capable of carrying nuclear warheads, but the fact that they can be launched from mobile platforms adds another level of danger. As opposed to fixed underground launch sites, mobile platforms are particularly difficult for the U.S. military and allied forces to track.
North Korea has been especially provocative since conducting its fifth nuclear test in January. The country has engaged in several failed missile tests.
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