Tokyo: After North Korea launched a ballistic missile that crossed northern Japan before crashing into the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday morning, the US military and the Japanese government issued an alert advising people to seek refuge.
The launch marked the fifth round of weapons testing of the communist regime in the past 10 days. According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the launch took place at 7:23 am from the northern province of Jangang.
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Additionally, it is the first time in five years that a North Korean missile has passed over its eastern neighbor. The South Korean military calculated that it traveled about 2,796 miles at a maximum altitude of 602 miles and traveled at a speed of Mach 17, or 17 times the speed of sound.
rocket launch. Rocket launch According to an alert from the Japanese government at 7:27 a.m., a missile appears to have been launched from North Korea. "Please take shelter inside structures or in basements."
A similar warning was issued from Misawa Air Base, which houses the 35th Fighter Wing and is located in the prefecture of Aomori. The warning ended at 8:04 am.
The US embassy in Tokyo alerted its Twitter followers to a potential missile threat and later informed them that the missile had missed Japan and exited its exclusive economic zone.
According to Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, the missile is believed to have flown over the Thoku area, where Misawa is located, before landing at 7:44 a.m. Put. And the safety of airplanes is at risk.
"North Korea's actions, including repeated ballistic missile launches, threaten the peace and security of the region as well as the world," the official said. "This poses a serious challenge to the entire international community, including our country."
Although officials were trying to determine whether the missile had fallen on Japanese soil, Matsuno said that no action was taken by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to shoot down the missile because "no damage was expected." " During peak hours, the launch temporarily shut down transportation networks in areas where warnings were issued.
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According to Japanese broadcaster NHK, subway service to Hokkaido's capital Sapporo was suspended between 7:27 am and 7:45 am. According to the East Japan Railway Company, the Tohoku Shinkansen or bullet train operating in northern Japan has temporarily stopped some of its services.
According to NHK, a flight from Aomori Airport to Tokyo's Haneda International Airport was delayed by 20 minutes. Additionally, Aomori has flights in and out of Misawa Airport.
According to a text message sent to reporters by the joint chiefs, the South Korean military "maintains a full readiness posture, cooperating closely" with the US military.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol told reporters he would discuss the incident with the National Security Council later in the morning.
The man said the firm response of allies, including our military and the international community, would be in response to such reckless nuclear provocation.
The Hwasong-12 missile from North Korea last passed over Japan on September 14, 2017, prompting the Japanese government to issue an advisory to people seeking refuge. As per reports, the missile landed in the Pacific Ocean without any damage or injury.
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According to South Korean military estimates, the most recent launch has a greater flight range than the Hwasong-12 launched in 2017. This hike is closer to 500 miles.
The Communist government has launched 22 tests so far this year, which is a record. On Saturday, North Korea for the last time launched two short-range missiles that traveled at Mach 6.
