SEOUL/TOKYO, Oct 4 (Reuters) – North Korea fired a ballistic missile over Japan on Tuesday, prompting a warning for residents to take cover and a temporary suspension of train operations in northern Japan.
The joint chiefs of staff of South Korea and the Japanese coast guard briefed on the missile test, which was launched off North Korea’s east coast.
The Japanese government warned citizens to take cover as the missile appeared to have flown over and over its territory before falling into the Pacific Ocean. But he said he did not use any defensive measures to destroy the missile.
Register now for FREE, unlimited access to Reuters.comRegister
TV Asahi, citing an unnamed government source, said North Korea may have fired an intercontinental ballistic missile and it fell into the sea about 3,000 km (1,860 miles) from Japan.
The latest launch was Pyongyang’s fifth in 10 days, amid military muscle-flexing by the United States and South Korea, which held trilateral anti-submarine drills last week with Japanese naval forces.
South Korea staged its own advanced weapons show to mark its Armed Forces Day on Saturday, including multiple rocket launchers, ballistic missiles, main battle tanks, drones and F-35 fighter jets.
The test prompted East Japan Railway Co ( 9020.T ) to suspend its train operations in northern regions, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported.
The North has completed preparations for a nuclear test, which could take place sometime between China’s Communist Party Congress this month and US midterm elections in November, southern lawmakers said – Koreans last week.
Register now for FREE, unlimited access to Reuters.comRegister
Reporting by Hyonhee Shin and Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by Leslie Adler, Chris Reese and Lincoln Feast
Our standards: the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.