Nuclear-armed For the first time in five years, North Korea launched a ballistic missile over Japan on Tuesday, triggering a warning for people to seek shelter and a brief halt of train service in northern Japan.
The missile looked to have flown over and beyond Japanese land before crashing into the Pacific Ocean, prompting the Japanese government to issue a warning to its inhabitants to seek shelter.
In contrast to North Korean test flights, which are typically “lofted” higher into space to avoid flying over neighbouring countries, this was the first North Korean missile to follow such a trajectory since 2017. Tokyo also claimed that its 4,600 km (2,850 miles) range may have been the longest ever for a North Korean test flight.
The most recent launch was Pyongyang’s fifth in ten days, occurring as the US, South Korea, and Japan all flexed their military might. The three nations engaged in trilateral anti-submarine drills last week, which included a U.S. aircraft carrier that made its first visit to South Korea since 2017.
According to Tokyo, no efforts were made to shoot the missile down. Yasukazu Hamada, Japan’s defence minister, stated that the country will not rule out any alternatives, including the use of retaliation capabilities, as it works to bolster its defences against North Korea’s frequent missile launches. South Korea also said that it will strengthen its armed forces and broaden its cooperation with allies.
Hirokazu Matsuno, Japan’s top government spokesperson, stated at a news conference that “North Korea’s series of actions, including its repeated ballistic missile launches, threatens the peace and security of Japan, the region, and the international community and poses a serious challenge to the entire international community, including Japan.”
