STORY: North Korea launched several missiles again on Wednesday. According to the South Korean military, three ballistic missiles were said to have flown in the direction of the Sea of Japan. Here archive pictures. The launch was also reported by the Japan Coast Guard. Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada was concerned on Wednesday: “These actions threaten the peace and stability of Japan, the region and the international community and are completely unacceptable. They violate the resolutions of the UN Security Council. We condemn North Korea’s tests in the strongest possible terms and have protested these actions through diplomatic channels in Beijing.” North Korea conducted a record number of missile tests this year. The government in Pyongyang said the recent missile launches were in response to Allied exercises. On Monday, the United States and South Korea began one of their largest joint military air exercises. Hundreds of warplanes will fly mock attacks around the clock for nearly a week during the maneuver.