North Korea Launches 2 Intermediate-Range Missiles

— -- North Korea launched two Musudan intermediate-range mobile-launched missiles Tuesday that achieved flight and fell into the Sea of Japan. The launches drew strong condemnation from the U.S. State Department that said intended to raise American concerns at the United Nations about North Korea's latest provocations.

"U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) systems detected and tracked what we assess were two North Korean missile launches at 3:56 p.m. CDT and 6:03 p.m. CDT, June 21, 2016," said Lt. Colonel Martin O'Donnell, a spokesman for U.S. Strategic Command. "The launch of two presumed Musudan intermediate range ballistic missiles occurred at Wonsan."

"The missiles were tracked over the Sea of Japan, where initial indications are they fell." said O'Donnell. "The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) determined the missile launches from North Korea did not pose a threat to North America

The two launches marked the fifth and sixth times that North Korea's has attempted to launch its missiles since April. The four previous launches in April and May had ended in explosions shortly after launch.

Initially a U.S. official told ABC News that it appeared that the first missile had failed in flight over the Sea of Japan, matching assessments from the South Korean military. However, it appears both missiles achieved flight and it remains unclear whether North Korea intended for the missiles to fall into the Sea of Japan if they achieved flight.

The State Department condemned the launches as another North Korean provocation in violation of U.N. Security Council Resolutions that ban North Korea from conducting ballistic missile activity.

"We strongly condemn these and North Korea’s other recent missile tests, which violate UN Security Council Resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea's launches using ballistic missile technology," said John Kirby, the State Department spokesman. "These provocations only serve to increase the international community’s resolve to counter the DPRK’s prohibited activities, including through implementing existing UN Security Council sanctions.

"We intend to raise our concerns at the UN to bolster international resolve in holding the DPRK accountable for these provocative actions," said Kirby.

"We are closely monitoring the situation on the Korean Peninsula in coordination with our regional allies," said Commander David Benham, a spokesman for U.S. Pacific Command. "We urge North Korea to refrain from provocative actions that aggravate tensions and instead focus on fulfilling its international obligations and commitments."

The Musudan missile has been a concern for American national security officials because as a mobile-launched missile, it is harder to detect by satellites and can be launched on short notice, while the missile's intermediate range means that North Korea might be capable of reaching the U.S. territory of Guam.

The official said that over the last few days the U.S. detected activity that indicated North Korea might be preparing to launch another Musudan missile.

Japan's military had reportedly been placed on alert for a possible North Korean missile test out of concerns a missile could fly over Japanese territory.