SEOUL/TOKYO, Oct 4 (Reuters) – North Korea fired a ballistic missile over Japan on Tuesday, prompting residents to take shelter and temporarily suspend train operations in northern Japan.
South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Japanese Coast Guard reported on the test missile, which was launched off the east coast of North Korea.
The Japanese government warned citizens to take shelter as the missile appeared to have flown over and past its territory before falling into the Pacific Ocean. But he said he did not use any defensive measures to destroy the missile.
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TV Asahi, citing an unnamed government source, said North Korea may have fired an intercontinental ballistic missile and it fell into the sea about 3,000 km (1,860 miles) from Japan.
The latest launch was the fifth from Pyongyang in 10 days, amid military efforts by the United States and South Korea, which conducted trilateral anti-submarine drills last week with Japanese naval forces.
South Korea held its own show of advanced weapons on Saturday to mark Armed Forces Day, including several rocket launchers, ballistic missiles, main battle tanks, drones and F-35 fighters.
The test prompted East Japan Railway Co <9020.T> to suspend train operations in northern areas, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported.
The North has completed preparations for a nuclear test, which it may consider undertaking between the Chinese Communist Party Congress this month and the U.S. midterm elections in November, South Korean lawmakers said. last week.
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Reporting by Hyonhee Shin and Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by Leslie Adler, Chris Reese and Lincoln Feast
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