BALLISTIC MISSILE FIRED BY NORTH KOREA OVER JAPAN

  • 04/10/2022

North Korea has launched a ballistic missile over Japan, in what appears to be a deliberate escalation designed to catch Tokyo and Washington off guard. The missile travelled 4,500 kilometres (2,800 miles) before crashing into the Pacific Ocean, far enough to hit the US island of Guam if it had taken a different path.

It is North Korea's first missile launch over Japan since 2017. Some citizens in Japan were advised to seek shelter. The United States and South Korea responded with joint bombing exercises.

The joint chiefs of staff of South Korea said four aircraft from each side took part in the exercise, firing at a mock target on an uninhabited island in the Yellow Sea. According to a statement, the drill demonstrated Seoul and Washington's determination to respond forcefully to Pyongyang's threat.

The UN forbids North Korea from conducting ballistic and nuclear tests. Flying missiles at or over other countries without prior notice or consultation also violates international norms.

Most countries avoid doing it entirely because it can easily be misinterpreted as an attack. While it is not as significant as a nuclear test, which could happen next, it is extremely provocative.

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