Over Japan North Korea launches a missile

In an apparent escalation of previous nuclear tests by Kim Jong-dictatorship, un’s North Korea is said to have shot an intermediate-range ballistic missile over northern Japan for the first time in five years, leading the government to advise citizens to seek cover from falling debris.

According to Japan’s Kyodo news agency, the government triggered its J-Alert system on Tuesday morning for inhabitants of the nation’s northeastern Aomori prefecture and Hokkaido, the country’s northernmost major island. According to media sources, train service in the area has been temporarily suspended.

“It looks like North Korea launched a missile. Please take shelter in buildings or underground, read the warning.

Fumio Kishida, the prime minister, referred to North Korea’s conduct as “outrageous” and promised that the government will keep compiling and analysing data. In order to bolster its defences in the face of frequent missile launches from North Korea, Japan would consider all alternatives, including retaliatory capabilities, according to defence minister Yasukazu Hamada.

Yoon Suk-yeol, the president of South Korea, issued a “resolute” warning following the launch, according to the Yonhap news agency. According to Yoon and Yonhap, the missile travelled around 4,000 kilometres. Guam, a US territory in the Pacific, is within striking reach at that range.

The North was “unresponsive” on the inter-Korean hotline, according to the South’s unification ministry, which manages cross-border affairs. Yoon pledged a severe reaction to the North’s “reckless nuclear provocations” from South Korea and the international community, but the national security council of the South said that Pyongyang’s actions will only “strengthen security cooperation with the US,” the South’s major partner.

The projectile seemed to have been an intermediate-range ballistic missile fired from North Korea’s Jagang region, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of South Korea.

It was the North’s first missile launch over Japanese soil since 2017. After a 22-minute flight, the missile fell in the sea 3,000 kilometres (1,860 miles) east of Japan at 7:44 a.m. local time, according to TV Asahi, citing an anonymous official source.

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of South Korea, the missile seemed to have been an intermediate-range ballistic missile launched from the Jagang area of North Korea.

It was the first missile launch by the North over Japanese soil since 2017. According to TV Asahi, citing an unidentified official source, the missile crashed into the water in the eastern Pacific Ocean at 7:44 a.m. local time following a 22-minute flight.

Hirokazu Matsuno, the chief government spokesperson for Japan, stated in a brief press conference that North Korea’s activities, notably its repeated ballistic missile tests, represent a severe danger to the Japan’s, the region’s and the world community’s peace and security.

The US’s first reaction was more restrained. The unveiling was referred to as “unfortunate” during an online session organised by the Institute for Corean-American Studies by Daniel Kritenbrink, the senior US diplomat for east Asia. According to Kritenbrink, “We implore [North Korea] to follow the route of negotiation, commit to serious and prolonged engagement, and forgo additional destabilising measures.

According to authorities in the Japanese defence ministry, the missile flew over Japanese land before heading east across the Japan Sea, also known as the East Sea in Korea. No casualties or damage to ships or planes were reported. It was the ninth missile launch by North Korea over Japan.