North Korea fires missile over Japan

A test launch of the North Korean Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile last month. Photograph: KCNA/EPA

The Japanese government has confirmed that North Korea has launched a missile and that it flew over the territory of northern Japan. This potentially dangerous event happened on Tuesday.

Immediately after this happened, the Japanese government alerted people and suggested to take precautions. Soon after the news went on air, it was confirmed that there was no damage caused by this action of North Korea.

This was yet another act of aggression of the North Korea that keep developing its offensive weapons that are aimed at some of its neighbor countries. Just three days ago we could hear that several short range missiles were fired into the Sea of Japan. President Trump didn’t need much to react as he stated that they are ready to meet any kind of threat from a communist country with “fire and fury.”

The missile that was fired and that passed over the Japanese north territory was tracked by the Japanese military, but they did not try to take it down. This happened at about 6:06 am local time or 21:06 GMT.

Soon after the launch, Tohoku region was warned, and people were advised to take refuge in underground shelters and similar. Later on, it was confirmed that the missile has landed in the sea and that it has been broken into three pieces.

Shinzo Abe, Japan’s prime minister, stated: “We will make utmost efforts to firmly protect the lives of the people.” This was briefly said by the prime minister that was entering his office in which emergency meetings were held regarding this situation.

Confirmation from South Korean came shortly after the missile was fired suggesting that an unidentified projectile was launched from a region close to the capital of North Korea and that it was traveling eastwards towards the sea.

We have received a statement in which joint chiefs of staff reported that both US and South Korean militaries were monitoring the launch and the trajectory of the missile. It was also added that they didn’t have immediate information how far the projectile traveled and where it landed.