North Korea flies missile over Japan, prompting citizens to rush for shelter

North Korea has flown a missile over Japan, prompting authorities to cancel a previous emergency alert

It has been confirmed by multiple sources, that North Korea has flown a missile over Japan, with no warning, prompting authorities to issue urgent warnings.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and the Japanese coast guard reported on the missile test, which was launched over North Korea’s east coast.

North Korea’s ballistic missile over Japan is the first missile over Japan for the first time in five years.

The Japanese emergency alert was advising citizens to seek shelter, and said residents should go to the inside of a building or go to the basement.

The target area for the alert was Hokkaido.

The missile, likely as part of test, prompted a Japanese emergency alert for citizens in Hokkaido.

Local reports say North Korea might have fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and it fell into the sea some 3,000 km (1,860 miles) from Japan.

The Japanese government said it did not use any defence measures to destroy the missile, which was the first to fly over or past Japan from North Korea since 2017.

“North Korea’s series of actions, including its repeated ballistic missile launches, threatens the peace and security of Japan, the region, and the international community, and poses a serious challenge to the entire international community, including Japan,”

Japan’s top government spokesperson Hirokazu Matsuno, said in a brief news conference.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called North Korea’s actions “barbaric”

South Korea’s defence ministry has also confirmed North Korea launched a missile, heading east.

The test prompted East Japan Railway Co to suspend its train operations in the northern regions, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported.

It’s a major development in the ongoing situation between North Korea and its neighbours. This has never been seen before and is understandably frightening for the people of Japan.