North Korea Launches Ballistic Missile At Japan

On October 4th, North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile that flew over Japan for the first time in five years, sparking alarm across the Japan. The launch also put the U.S. military base in Guam within striking distance of the missile’s target.
The launch of the ballistic missile took place at about 7:23 A.M. from Jagang Province in Northern North Korea, according to the South Korean Chiefs of Staff Conference. It traveled about 2,796 miles eastward, reached an altitude of 603 miles, and reached a top speed of Mach 17, landing in the Pacific Ocean. The Japanese government has issued a warning asking residents of Tokyo and parts of Northern Japan to take shelter.

After the missile launch, the Japanese Prime Minister condemned the action and the South Korean President expressed a firm response as well. U.S. Secretary of State John Blinken spoke separately with the foreign ministers of South Korea and Japan, and together strongly condemned North Korea’s “blatant” violations of numerous UN Security Council resolutions. Blinken also emphasized the unbreakable commitment of the United States to defend South Korea and Japan and reiterated the importance of continued close cooperation between the United States, Japan and South Korea.

The three countries held jointly of their first military anti-submarine exercise in five years off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula last week, following four days of bilateral exercises in the region by warships from South Korea and the United States. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Reagan was also involved with both exercises.