OPINION:
North Korea launched a ballistic missile that landed in the Sea of Japan around 150 miles west of Akita Prefecture in the country’s north, Tokyo’s defense minister said. This is the latest in a string of missile launches, most of which have flown over Japanese territory. 30 ballistic missiles have been launched by the North since 2011.
“Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the latest missile had landed in Japan’s territorial waters, calling the launch an “unforgivable act of aggression that represents a grave threat to the security of Japan.” He added that Tokyo had lodged a protest with North Korea and would coordinate with the U.S. and South Korea over “resolute measures” in response,” reports the Wall Street Journal.
A spokesman for South Korea’s Defense Ministry said the latest missile traveled around 600 miles after it was fired from a base in the southwest of North Korea. Japan’s departing defense minister, Gen Nakatani, said the missile was fired about 7:53 a.m. local time and landed in the sea about 8:05 a.m.
There was no warning after the launch and no comment afterward from North Korea. Intelligence officials also said North Korea is making progress on arming missiles with a nuclear warhead.
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