North Korea fires ballistic missile, Tokyo warns citizens to take shelter

It is the first time since 2017 a North Korean missile has flown over Japan

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ ITDC NEWS North Korea has fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan prompting Tokyo to warn its citizens to take shelter. The missile appeared to have flown over and past Japan's territory before falling into the Pacific Ocean.

Since 2017, it is the first time a North Korean missile has flown over Japan. Reports said it is the most significant missile test by North Korea since January this year, when it fired the Hwasong-12 intermediate-range missile capable of reaching the US territory of Guam.

The Japanese prime minister's office confirmed that at least one missile fired from North Korea had flown over Japan and was believed to have landed into the Pacific Ocean.

The Japanese authorities issued an alert to the residents in the northeastern regions to evacuate and seek shelter in safe places. Train service was temporarily suspended in Japan's Hokkaido and Aomori regions. 

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has strongly condemned the act. He told reporters that the firing, which followed a recent series of launches by North Korea, is a reckless act. The situation will be discussed in the National Security Council, he added.

Meanwhile, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno said there have been no immediate reports of damage reported after the North's missile launch. He said the missile landed in waters outside the country's exclusive economic zone after a 22-minute flight.

South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol said North Korea launched an intermediate-range missile whose range is 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles). It is a range that places Guam within striking distance, he added.

Yoon said he called a National Security Council meeting to discuss the launch and that the North's reckless nuclear provocations would meet the stern response of the South and the broader international community.

The launch is the fifth round of weapons tests by North Korea in the past 10 days in what was seen as an apparent response to bilateral military drills between South Korea and the United States and the allies' other training involving Japan last week.

About 40 missiles has been test-fired by North Korea in over 20 different launch events this year as its leader Kim Jong Un refuses to return to nuclear diplomacy with the United States.