North Korean missile flew over Japan, prompting government warning to seek shelter [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• North Korea fired a ballistic missile that flew over Japan, prompting the Japanese government to urge residents to seek shelter.
• The ballistic missile ultimately flew over Japan and fell into the Pacific Ocean.
• North Korea has launched five missiles in the last 10 days and 23 missiles this year.

Residents in Japan received a warning to seek shelter immediately after the Japanese government tracked a ballistic missile launched from North Korea.

At around 7:27 a.m. local time, the prime minister’s official residence announced that North Korea has fired a missile toward the east. Authorities warned residents in the Hokkaido and Aomori prefectures to seek shelter.

The Japanese coast guard and South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that North Korea launched a ballistic missile off its eastern coast. The warning was displayed on Japanese TV and relayed by the US Embassy in Tokyo.

A follow-up message was tweeted by the prime minister’s official residence about 15 minutes after the initial warning, stating that the missile has passed over the Pacific Ocean at about 7:29 a.m. local time.

According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, the missile traveled about 4,500 kilometers.

Residents were advised against approaching or touching any remnants and to contact local responders if they encounter anything suspicious.

North Korea has launched five missiles in the last 10 days and 23 missiles this year.

During a press conference, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said that the missile flew over the country’s Tohoku area and landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

Michelle Ye Hee Lee, a reporter for the Washington Post, detailed Matsuno’s statements in a Twitter thread.

According to Lee, Matsuno said that the missile “could have a grave impact on the lives and livelihood of the Japanese people.” Officials are still looking into whether there is any fallen debris and are cooperating with other countries for an investigation.

Matsuno called out North Korea for posing “a grave challenge to the safety and security of Japan and the international community,” Lee wrote.

Source: Yahoo! News