(VOVWORLD) - Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Tuesday that North Korea’s latest missile launch was a threat that Tokyo will respond to firmly.
North Korea launched a missile in July, 2017 (Photo: KCNA)
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Ahead of an emergency meeting at the Prime Minister’s office, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters he will do everything in his power to protect his people.
The Japanese government reported that the Korean missile flew over its Northern territory at about 6:06 am local time on Tuesday, triggering J-Alert safety warnings. There were no immediate reports of damage from the missile. Broadcaster NHK said the missile broke into 3 pieces and fell into water, about 1,180 km east of Cape Erimo on Hokkaido Island.
The US Defense Department confirmed a missile launch by North Korea. South Korea’s military said the missile flew over 2,700 km, reaching a maximum height of 550 km.
North Korea launched the missile 3 days after it fired 3 short-range ballistic missiles. The Pentagon called North Korea’s action “a threat”, though the missiles didn’t directly affect the US.