In what is being called the most provocative missile test this year, North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan and into the Pacific Ocean.
The missile is believed to have traveled approximately 2800 miles at an altitude of 600 miles and a speed of Mach 17 before landing about 1900 miles off the northern Japanese coast. This was a nuclear-capable ballistic missile that could reach the US Pacific territory of Guam. This is approximately the 40th test launch conducted by North Korea this year and the fifth weapons test in the past ten days. Speculation is that these recent tests are in response to joint military drills performed by the US, South Korea, and Japan off the coast of Korea last week. Kim Jong Un views such exercises as preparation for an invasion.
Alerts were sent over Japanese TV to residents in Tokyo and northern Japan’s Hokkaido and Aomori prefectures, urging Japanese residents to take cover. Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called Tuesday’s launch “outrageous” and said Japan strongly protested the action. South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol promised a resolute response. Both leaders said they would convene the National Security Council to discuss the situation.
The US quickly condemned the test and launched fighter jets that fired upon a target off South Korea’s west coast to show strength to the North Korean leader.
“The United States will continue its efforts to limit (North Korea’s) ability to advance its prohibited ballistic missile and weapons of mass destruction programs, including with allies and U.N. partners,” National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement.
