It’s believed the missile was fired in retaliation to the US and South Korea carrying out joint missile drills and the return of a US aircraft carrier to the region.
This latest missile test is the sixth in 12 days after a missile was fired over North-east Japan earlier in the week.
VIDEO: South Korean and US forces conduct a military drill – firing a volley of missiles into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, in response to North Korea firing a ballistic missile over Japan on Tuesday pic.twitter.com/Pi7ewMME2b
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) October 5, 2022
Japan had issued several warnings and evacuations over a missile that was launched by North Korea early Monday morning.
Residents in Hokkaido, Aomori Prefecture and Tokyo’s Izu awoke at 7:30am to the J-Alert warning system that told them a missile had been launched and it was imperative they take shelter.
Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada said that he believes North Korea had launched a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) that flew a total distance 4,600 kilometres and spent a minute travelling over the Aomori Prefecture.
It eventually landed in the Pacific Ocean some 3,200km from Japan’s east coast with authorities believing it was launched from North Korea’s Jagang province.
“North Korea’s recent series of actions, including its persistent and escalating launches, threaten the peace and security of the region and the globe, and are a serious challenge to the entire international community, including our own country,” he said.
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Japan emergency alert: "North Korea appears to have launched a missile. Please evacuate to the inside of a building or go to the basement. Target area: Hokkaido" pic.twitter.com/dhQLhcJozZ— CharKueyTeow (@DeanOrDeen) October 4, 2022
It’s the first time in five years a J-Alert has been issued over the threat of a North Korean missile.
Even though no counter measures were taken, Mr Hamada said they wouldn’t rule out that option in the future.
“In light of this situation, we will continue to examine all options — including so-called ‘counterattack capabilities’ and not rule out anything as we continue to work to fundamentally strengthen our defence abilities.”
North Korea has ramped up their testing amid the US, Japan and South Korea having carried out several anti-submarine drills in the past week.
One of the missiles was launched several hours after US Vice President Kamala Harris left Seoul, South Korea while two were fired before her arrival.
While she was there, she spoke of North Korea and wanting one day for the DPRK to “no longer be a threat”.
“In the North, we see a brutal dictatorship, rampant human rights violations and an unlawful weapons program that threatens peace and stability,” she said.
“The United States and the world seek a stable and peaceful Korean peninsula.”
