North Korea has fired a ballistic missile over Japan, in what appears to be a deliberate escalation to get the attention of Tokyo and Washington. The missile travelled 4,500km before falling into the Pacific Ocean, far enough to hit the US island of Guam if it took another trajectory. It is the North's first missile launch over Japan since 2017, prompting Japan to issue an alert to some citizens to take cover.
In response, the US, Japan and South Korea conducted their own military drills. South Korean and US aircraft fired at a mock target on an uninhabited island in the Yellow Sea, while the US and Japan also jointly carried out drills over the Sea of Japan. The UN prohibits North Korea from testing ballistic and nuclear weapons, and flying missiles towards or over other countries without warning contravenes international norms.
People in northern Japan, including Hokkaido island and Aomori city, reportedly woke up to sirens and text alerts warning them to evacuate into buildings or underground. As the missile flew overhead, they were warned to look out for falling debris. Officials later said the intermediate-range ballistic missile fell into the Pacific Ocean far from Japan, with no reported injuries. It covered the longest distance ever travelled by a North Korean missile and reached a height of around 1,000km.
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida described the launch as 'violent behaviour', while defence minister Yasukazu Hamada said Japan would not rule out any options to strengthen its defences, including 'counterattack capabilities'. US President Joe Biden reinforced Washington's 'ironclad commitment' to Japan's defence during a phone call with Mr Kishida, and the two leaders jointly condemned the missile test.
Recent intelligence has suggested that North Korea is preparing to test another nuclear weapon. Some experts believe Tuesday's launch shows that North Korea is preparing the ground for a nuclear test, which could come sooner than expected. The missile launch is the fifth carried out by Pyongyang in a week, contributing to enduring tensions between North Korea and Japan.
