Topline
A North Korean missile flew over Japan before crashing into the Pacific early Tuesday morning, according to the Japanese government, leading residents of some regions to take shelter following one of North Korea’s most obtrusive missile launches in years.
A man watches a television report showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean … [+]
Key Facts
The missile appeared to land in the Pacific after passing over one of Japan’s islands, the office of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida tweeted.
The missile flew more than 4,000 kilometers and landed in waters outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, government officials told public broadcaster NHK.
Residents of two northern Japanese prefectures were reportedly told to take shelter, and the country’s train operator paused service, according to NHK.
Kishida condemned the missile launch, reportedly calling it an “outrageous act.”
Key Background
North Korea regularly launches ballistic missiles into the ocean, drawing condemnation from the South Korean and Japanese governments as well as the United States. But missile launches over Japan are far less common: Just seven North Korean missiles have flown over the country in total, according to NHK, most recently in September 2017. North Korea has conducted nearly two dozen missile tests this year, at least two of which involved launching longer-range intercontinental ballistic missiles, as tensions in the region rise and as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pursues a strategy of modernizing its military.
What To Watch For
South Korean intelligence officials think North Korea is preparing for a nuclear test as soon as mid-October, Reuters reported last week. It would mark the country’s first nuclear test in five years. Kim declared last month North Korea will not give up its nuclear program, despite the strict sanctions his country has faced for developing the weapons.
Tangent
The militaries of South Korea, Japan and the United States conducted their first joint anti-submarine drills since 2017 last month, a move that came as North Korea seeks to build up its submarine fleet.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/joewalsh/2022/10/03/north-korea-fires-rare-missile-over-japan-prompting-residents-to-take-shelter/