Seoul: North Korea fired what is believed to be an intermediate-range ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan from around Pyongyang at around 2:55 p.m. Sunday, according to South Korea’s military.

Japan’s Defense Ministry also said that a possible ballistic missile was launched from North Korea. The object is believed to have fallen into waters outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, Japanese government officials said.

The object reached a maximum altitude of at least around 50 kilometers and traveled at least 500 kilometers, according to the Japanese ministry. The South Korean military said it traveled about 1,000 kilometers. Intermediate-range ballistic missiles have a range of about 3,000 to 5,500 kilometers.

This is North Korea’s first ballistic missile launch since it fired the new Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile on Dec. 18, and also the first since Japan, the United States and South Korea launched a system to instantly share missile warning information on Dec. 19.

Sunday’s missile launch came after South Korea’s defense minister warned in a media interview on Wednesday that the North could test a new intermediate-range ballistic missile by the end of January. The new missile is said to be a solid-fuel type, which allows for quicker launches than liquid-fuel missiles. In November, North Korea announced that it had successfully conducted a ground combustion test of an engine for the new missile.

In response to the latest firing, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida issued instructions to provide information to the public promptly, confirm the safety of aircraft and ships, and make all possible preparations for contingencies.

The Japanese government made a solemn protest to North Korea, condemning the missile launch as a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and a threat to the safety of Japanese people. No damage from the missile to aircraft or ships has been reported.

Earlier this month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly called South Korea his country’s main enemy and said that he has no intention of avoiding war. On Jan. 5-7, the North Korean military conducted artillery fire in the Yellow Sea, according to the South Korean military.

JIJI Press