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North Korea missiles: Projectile flies over Japan North Korea fires missile over Japan drawing fury
(about 1 hour later)
North Korea has fired a missile that flew over northern Japan before crashing into the sea.North Korea has fired a missile that flew over northern Japan before crashing into the sea.
No effort was made by the Japanese to shoot down the missile, which was launched early in the morning local time, triggering safety warnings.No effort was made by the Japanese to shoot down the missile, which was launched early in the morning local time, triggering safety warnings.
The missile broke into three pieces before it landed, local media reported. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the missile an "unprecedented" threat.
There has a been a wave of North Korean missile tests but it is the first time in eight years that one has flown over Japan. There has a been a wave of North Korean missile tests recently but firing projectiles over Japan is rare.
On Friday and Saturday North Korea fired three short-range missiles into the sea off its eastern coast.On Friday and Saturday North Korea fired three short-range missiles into the sea off its eastern coast.
As this latest missile flew towards Japan warning alarms went off across northern Japan but public broadcaster NHK said there was no sign of any damage. As this latest missile flew towards Japan warning alarms went off across northern Japan, but public broadcaster NHK said there was no sign of any damage.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said afterwards the government was doing its utmost to protect people's lives. Mr Abe called the launch an "outrageous act" and an "unprecedented, serious and grave threat [that] greatly damages regional peace and security".
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga described the latest test as an "unprecedented" threat. He said that Japan would take "appropriate steps" in response. He said his government was doing its utmost to protect people's lives.
Japan is likely to see the test as a serious escalation of tensions given the missile's flight path, the BBC's Yogita Limaye in Seoul says. Given the missile's flight path the test is being seen as an escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula.
The Pentagon said that Tuesday's test did not represent a threat to the US and the military was now working to gather more intelligence about it. The South Korean military says that the missile was fired eastward from near the north's capital Pyongyang early on Tuesday.
It passed through the sky over Japan and fell into the North Pacific Ocean, it said, covering a distance of more than 2,700km (1,678 miles) at a maximum altitude of around 550km (342 miles).
The missile flew over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido before breaking into three pieces and falling into the water, according to local media.
In other reaction:
On the two occasions North Korea has fired rockets over Japan in the past - once in 1998 and again in 2009 - the North claimed they were for satellite launches, not weapons.
Earlier this month North Korea threatened to fire missiles towards the US Pacific territory of Guam, while US President Donald Trump warned Pyongyang would face "fire and fury" if it threatened the US.Earlier this month North Korea threatened to fire missiles towards the US Pacific territory of Guam, while US President Donald Trump warned Pyongyang would face "fire and fury" if it threatened the US.
The US and South Korea are currently engaged in joint military exercises and the North's missile tests are often in response to them.The US and South Korea are currently engaged in joint military exercises and the North's missile tests are often in response to them.
Thousands of troops from both countries are participating in the drills, which are mainly computer-simulated exercises.Thousands of troops from both countries are participating in the drills, which are mainly computer-simulated exercises.