SEOUL: North Korea fired what is presumed to be an intercontinental ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan on Thursday morning, according to the South Korean military.
The ballistic missile was launched from the Pyongyang area around 7:10 a.m. on a lofted trajectory, the South Korean military said.
The Japanese Defense Ministry said that the missile was expected to fall in the Sea of Japan waters outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone about 300 kilometers west of Hokkaido’s Okushiri Island around 8:36 a.m. It later said the missile has already fallen.
The South Korean government was on alert ahead of the U.S. presidential election on Tuesday, fearing that North Korea might intensify its provocations.
Following the launch, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba instructed relevant government agencies to make all-out efforts to collect and analyze information, promptly provide necessary information to the public and ensure the safety of aircraft and ships.
He also called for taking all possible measures to prepare for unexpected situations.
There have been no reports of damage from the missile, Ishiba told reporters at the prime minister’s office.
He also said his government is set to hold a meeting of its National Security Council to discuss how to respond to the missile launch.
Tokyo will work with the United States and South Korea to collect and analyze information related to the missile firing.
This is the first ballistic missile launch by North Korea since Sept. 18. Pyongyang said that it was a test-firing of a new tactical ballistic missile with a huge warhead.
JIJI Press