North Korea Fired Missile Into Japanese Waters
North Korea Fired Missile Into Japanese Waters
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TOKYO - North Korea has fired an intermediate range missile in the direction of Japan. US Pacific Command said, land-based missile was fired from near Panghyon airfield, and flew for 37 minutes before landing in the Sea of Japan.
Japan has lodged a protest and PM Shinzo Abe said the launch "clearly shows that the threat has grown". Pyongyang has increased the frequency of its nuclear and missile tests in recent months, raising tensions.
South Korea said Tuesday's projectile was launched at 09:40 local time (00:40 GMT) and flew about 930 km (578 miles). The missile may have landed in waters claimed by Japan as its exclusive economic zone, according to Japanese officials. US said it did not pose a threat to North America.
Meanwhile, Pyongyang is due to make an "important announcement" later on Tuesday, reported South Korea's Yonhap news agency. This is the 11th detected missile launch this year, but its range seems much greater, says the BBC's Stephen Evans in Seoul.
North Korea last test-launched missiles in May. It fired projectiles on two separate occasions, both towards the Sea of Japan. While Pyongyang has appeared to have made progress, experts believe North Korea does not have the capability to accurately target a place with an intercontinental ballistic missile or miniaturise a nuclear warhead that can fit on such a missile.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters on Tuesday: "North Korea's repeated provocations like this are absolutely unacceptable". Abe said Japan would "unite strongly" with the US and South Korea to put pressure on Pyongyang.
He added that he would call on Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin - who are meeting in Moscow - "to play a more constructive role".
![North Korea Fired Missile Into Japanese Waters]()
US President, Donald Trump also responded swiftly on Tuesday to the missile launch. On his Twitter account he made apparent reference to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, saying: "Does this guy have anything better to do with his life?"
"Hard to believe that South Korea and Japan will put up with this much longer. Perhaps China will put a heavy move on North Korea and end this nonsense once and for all!" he write.
Trump had earlier called Mr Kim a "pretty smart cookie". He has also repeatedly called on Mr Xi to pressure North Korea to end its nuclear and missile programmes. Beijing is Pyongyang's closest economic ally.
Japan has lodged a protest and PM Shinzo Abe said the launch "clearly shows that the threat has grown". Pyongyang has increased the frequency of its nuclear and missile tests in recent months, raising tensions.
South Korea said Tuesday's projectile was launched at 09:40 local time (00:40 GMT) and flew about 930 km (578 miles). The missile may have landed in waters claimed by Japan as its exclusive economic zone, according to Japanese officials. US said it did not pose a threat to North America.
Meanwhile, Pyongyang is due to make an "important announcement" later on Tuesday, reported South Korea's Yonhap news agency. This is the 11th detected missile launch this year, but its range seems much greater, says the BBC's Stephen Evans in Seoul.
North Korea last test-launched missiles in May. It fired projectiles on two separate occasions, both towards the Sea of Japan. While Pyongyang has appeared to have made progress, experts believe North Korea does not have the capability to accurately target a place with an intercontinental ballistic missile or miniaturise a nuclear warhead that can fit on such a missile.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters on Tuesday: "North Korea's repeated provocations like this are absolutely unacceptable". Abe said Japan would "unite strongly" with the US and South Korea to put pressure on Pyongyang.
He added that he would call on Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin - who are meeting in Moscow - "to play a more constructive role".
US President, Donald Trump also responded swiftly on Tuesday to the missile launch. On his Twitter account he made apparent reference to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, saying: "Does this guy have anything better to do with his life?"
"Hard to believe that South Korea and Japan will put up with this much longer. Perhaps China will put a heavy move on North Korea and end this nonsense once and for all!" he write.
Trump had earlier called Mr Kim a "pretty smart cookie". He has also repeatedly called on Mr Xi to pressure North Korea to end its nuclear and missile programmes. Beijing is Pyongyang's closest economic ally.
(rnz)
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