North Korea fires ballistic missile into sea between Koreas, Japan

North Korea launched a ballistic missile on a high angle that landed between the Korean Peninsula and Japan early on Thursday continuing its provocative run of weapons testsThe launch prompted Japan to issue an evacuation order that was later retracted for a northern island showing the vigilance of North Koreas neighbours over its evolving missile threatsSouth Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staffs said the missile launched from near the North Korean capital Pyongyang flew toward the waters off the Norths east coast The statement described the missile as having a medium or longer range but didnt say how far it flewJapanese Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada told reporters that North Korea launched a possible intercontinental ballistic missile on a high angle Hamada said the missile did not reach Japans exclusive economic zoneJapanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters he planned a National Security Council meeting to discuss the launch Asked over the accuracy of Japans information dissemination about future North Korean launches Kishida said the government is checking related information including alertsNorth Korea commonly testlaunches missiles toward the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan All its past ICBM launches were made in the area but on elevated trajectories to avoid neighbouring countriesSouth Korea and Japan typically dont issue evacuation orders for North Korean launches unless they determine weapons flew in the direction of their territoriesBut after Thursdays launch the Japanese government urged people on the northernmost island of Hokkaido to seek shelterThe government then corrected and retracted its missile alert saying its analysis showed there was no possibility of a missile landing near Hokkaido It was unclear why Japan issued the order for a missile that didnt fall near the island but the incident suggested it was being cautious about North Koreas evolving missile threatsLast October Japanese authorities issued a similar evacuation order when a North Korean intermediaterange missile flew over Japan in a launch that demonstrated the potential to reach the US Pacific territory of GuamAt the time Japanese authorities alerted residents in its northeastern regions to seek shelter and halted trains although no damages were reported before the weapon landed in the PacificThursdays launch came days after its leader Kim Jong Un vowed to enhance his nuclear arsenal in more practical and offensive waysNorth Korea has launched about 100 missiles this year and in 2022 many of them nuclearcapable weapons that place the US mainland South Korea and Japan within striking distanceAlso read Take all possible measures for precaution Japan PMO after North Korea fires missile toward East SeaMany were in response to South KoreanUS military drills that it views as a rehearsal for an invasionSome observers say North Korea wants to use its rivals drills as a pretext to modernise its weapons arsenal and pressure Washington and Seoul to make concessions such as the lifting of economic sanctionsSouth Korean and US officials say their drills are defensive in nature and were arranged to respond to North Koreas growing nuclear and missile threats During a military meeting Monday Kim reviewed the countrys frontline attack plans and various combat documents and stressed the need to bolster his nuclear deterrent with increasing speed on a more practical and offensive manner according to North Koreas official Korean Central News AgencyThere are concerns that North Korea could conduct its first nuclear test in more than five years since it unveiled a new type of nuclear warhead earlier this monthForeign experts debate whether North Korea has developed warheads small and light enough to fit on its more advanced missilesSouth Korean officials say North Korea has not been responding to South Korean calls on a set of crossborder interKorean hotlines for about a week The Norths alleged suspension of communications on those channels could be worrisome because they are meant to prevent accidental clashes along the rivals disputed western sea boundaryOn Tuesday South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Youngse Seouls point man on the North expressed strong regret over North Koreas unilateral and irresponsible attitude over the hotlinesKwon also warned unspecified legal action over the Norths use of South Korean assets at a nowstalled interKorean factory park in North Korea South Korea pulled its companies out of Kaesong in North Korea in 2016 following a North Korean nuclear test removing the last remaining major symbol of cooperation between the rivalsNorth Korean state media recently showed what appeared to be South Korean commuter buses running in the streets of Kaesong and Pyongyang North Koreas advancing nuclear arsenal is expected to be a major topic during a summit between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and US President Joe Biden later this month in WashingtonYoons government has been seeking stronger US assurances that it will surely and swiftly use all its military capabilities including nuclear to protect South Korea in the event of a North Korean nuclear attackNorth Koreas weapons testing spree has also raised the urgency for Seoul and Tokyo to strengthen their defense postures in conjunction with their alliances with the United StatesExperts say the discussions between world leaders at next months Group of Seven meetings in Japan could also be crucial for maintaining diplomatic pressure on North Korea given the dysfunction at the UN Security CouncilPermanent members China and Russia have blocked tighter sanctions on North Korea in recent months underscoring a divide deepened by Russias war on UkraineThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without 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