On October 4, North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile that terrified the people of Japan.
Since firing an intermediate-range missile called the Hwasong-12 in January that was capable of reaching the American territory of Guam, this is North Korea’s major missile test. According to officials in Tokyo and Japan, the missile launched on Tuesday travelled the farthest distance ever for a North Korean weapon—about 2,800 miles.
According to the Japanese prime minister’s office, at least one missile fired from North Korea was thought to have fallen in the Pacific Ocean after flying over Japan.
In the first “J-alert” since 2017, Japanese authorities advised inhabitants in the northeastern regions to seek shelter in neighbouring buildings. In Japan’s Hokkaido and Aomori regions, trains were briefly put on hold until regular operations were restored in response to a government alert that the North Korean missile appeared to have landed in the Pacific.
Photo by: KIM HONG-JI
The North Korean missile launch on Tuesday was the most recent in a string of recent incidents that have increased tension between Pyongyang and the United States and its alliances in East Asia. In five years, the first trilateral anti-submarine drills between South Korea, the United States, and Japan took place last week off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula. It followed four days of joint military training in the area by South Korean and American vessels.
The ear-splitting noise threatens the locals
According to the South Korean military, the intermediate-range missile fired on Tuesday was launched from Myupyong-RI, close to North Korea’s central border with China. According to Japan’s chief cabinet minister, Hirokazu Matsuno, it took off at 7:22 a.m. and landed in the Pacific Ocean 22 minutes later. It went down roughly 3,000 kilometres (or 1,864 miles) east of the archipelago, outside Japan’s 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone. Cellphones, radios, and public speakers around northern Japan started to sound the alerts. Cell Phones, radios, and public speakers around northern Japan began to say the signs.
On Hokkaido, Japan‘s most northern island, Kazuyuki Tsuchiya, 72, a small village inn proprietor, observed, “You can’t ever get used to that sound.” “I’m terrified,” he said
2017’s history is repeated
In 2017, when Donald J. Trump was in office, and Kim Jong-un appeared determined to intensify tensions with Washington, Pyongyang last fired a weapon over Japan. This year, North Korea tested 40 missiles over 20 distinct launch occasions. Kim Jong Un vowed to increase the size of his nuclear arsenal and refused to resume atomic diplomacy with the United States.
In 2017, when Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, appeared to be seeking conflict, similar worries were raised in Japan. But since that time, the world has altered significantly. The world is concerned with Russia’s war in Ukraine, where President Vladimir V. Putin has issued a covert threat to use tactical nuclear weapons, and a less erratic president is now in the White House. Energy scarcities, inflation, and the repercussions of a protracted coronavirus epidemic are all causing problems for the world economy. Russia and China are less inclined to work with the UN on sanctions.
Between 2017 and 2018, Japan conducted missile evacuation drills in 29 municipalities. After observing a reduction in tensions following the U.S.-North Korea meeting in June 2018, it halted the exercises.
With local governments planning to undertake such drills, the national government has negotiated timetables and other specifics.
Fumio Kishida, the prime minister of Japan, described Tuesday’s launch as “outrageous” and stated that his country vehemently opposed it. President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea promised a firm response.
