North Korea launches a missile over Japan, some trains are suspended

Seoul/Tokyo (Reuters) – North Korea fired a ballistic missile at Japan on Tuesday, sending residents sheltering and temporarily halting train operations in northern Japan.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Japan Coast Guard reported the missile test that was launched off the east coast of North Korea.

The Japanese government has warned citizens to take cover as the missile appears to have flown over and overtaken its territory before falling into the Pacific Ocean. But it said it did not use any defensive measures to destroy the missile.

Asahi TV, citing an unnamed government source, said North Korea may have launched an ICBM that landed in the sea about 3,000 km from Japan.

The latest launch was Pyongyang’s fifth in 10 days, amid a display of military muscle by the United States and South Korea, which conducted a trilateral anti-submarine exercise last week with the Japanese navy.

South Korea on Saturday organized its own parade of advanced weapons to celebrate Armed Forces Day, including multiple launchers, ballistic missiles, main battle tanks, drones and F-35 fighters.

Pay the test East Japan Railway Company (9020.T) Japan’s broadcaster NHK has reported that train operations have been suspended in northern regions.

South Korean lawmakers said last week that North Korea had completed preparations for a nuclear test, which it may look to conduct sometime between this month’s Chinese Communist Party congress and the US midterm elections in November.

Reporting by Hyonhee Shin and Chang-Ran Kim. Editing by Leslie Adler, Chris Reese and Lincoln Fest

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