North Korean missile prompts brief evacuation order in Japan
The Japanese government has since informed residents that the reported missile launch no longer poses a threat.
The Japanese government has reassured citizens on Hokkaido, the second largest island, that a missile from North Korea is no longer likely to land on or around its territory, overturning a previously issued evacuation order.
The Japanese Coast Guard later issued a statement clarifying that the missile had already fallen and no distress signals had been received from ships near the northern Japanese island.
The message comes shortly after the government warned residents to take cover or evacuate on Thursday morning, following reports that North Korea may have fired a ballistic missile in its direction.
“Evacuate immediately. Evacuate immediately,” the government said in its warning, encouraging residents to otherwise go indoors or underground for shelter.
According to the government, a possible strike was expected around 8am local time (23:00 GMT). According to local media, the missile would have launched at around 07:25 (22:25 GMT) and the satellite-based J-Alert warning system would broadcast about 20 minutes later.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JSC) also indicated on Thursday that its northern neighbor fired a missile that landed in waters off the east coast.
North Korea has interpreted its recent missile launches as a response to joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea.
As a sign of heightened tension, North Korea’s state media agency KCNA quoted leader Kim Jong-un as calling for his country’s military to be strengthened in a “more practical and offensive way” after meeting with senior officials.
The Central Military Commission meeting took place Monday in response to “the escalating moves of the US imperialists and the South Korean puppet traitors to unleash a war of aggression,” according to the KCNA.
The news agency explained that military leaders there “discussed practicalities and measures for machines to prepare various military action proposals” that the “enemy” could not counter.
This is an evolving story. More updates to follow.