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North Korea fires missile over Japan drawing fury North Korea fires missile over Japan in 'unprecedented threat'
(about 3 hours later)
North Korea has fired a missile that flew over northern Japan before crashing into the sea. North Korea has fired a missile over northern Japan in a move Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called an "unprecedented" threat to his country.
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, launched early on Tuesday Korean time, flew over Hokkaido island before crashing into the sea.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the missile an "unprecedented" threat. The UN Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting in response.
There has a been a wave of North Korean missile tests recently but firing projectiles over Japan is rare. North Korea has conducted a flurry of missile tests in recent months but firing projectiles over Japan is rare and sharply escalates tensions.
On Friday and Saturday North Korea fired three short-range missiles into the sea off its eastern coast. On the two previous occasions North Korea fired rockets over Japan - in 1998 and 2009 - the North claimed they were for satellite launches, not weapons.
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. Residents told to seek shelter
The South Korean military said the missile was fired eastward from near the North's capital, Pyongyang. Early analysis of the launch suggest the missile:
No effort was made by the Japanese to shoot down the missile but it issued a safety warning telling citizens in Hokkaido to take shelter in "a sturdy building or basement".
US and Japanese forces are currently taking part in training drills in Hokkaido.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in ordered a show of "overwhelming" force in response to the launch. Four South Korean jets staged a live bombing drill on Tuesday.
Mr Abe said he had spoken to US President Donald Trump and that both agreed to increase pressure on North Korea.
Mr Abe called the launch an "outrageous act" and an "unprecedented, serious and grave threat [that] greatly damages regional peace and security".Mr Abe called the launch an "outrageous act" and an "unprecedented, serious and grave threat [that] greatly damages regional peace and security".
He said his government was doing its utmost to protect people's lives.He said his government was doing its utmost to protect people's lives.
Given the missile's flight path the test is being seen as an escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula. North Korea's conventional and nuclear weapons programmes are a breach of international sanctions, so the test is being seen as a major provocation and an escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula.
The South Korean military says that the missile was fired eastward from near the north's capital Pyongyang early on Tuesday. 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 continued to threaten the US.
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). There have also been some reports in recent months that North Korea is preparing to carry out its sixth nuclear test.
The missile flew over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido before breaking into three pieces and falling into the water, according to local media. But last week, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the fact that North Korea had not carried out any missile launches since the UN imposed a fresh round of sanctions was an indication of restraint by Pyongyang.
In other reaction: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.
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.