Japan: N.korea Launches At Least 1 Missile Early Friday
Japan's Defense Minister says North Korea launched at least one ballistic missile eastward early on Friday morning.
Minister Hamada Yasukazu said the missile was fired at around 1:47 a.m., Japan time, from near Pyongyang. He said it is believed to have fallen into the Sea of Japan east of the Korean Peninsula, outside Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone.
Hamada said the ministry estimates that the missile reached an altitude of about 50 kilometers and traveled around 650 kilometers. He also said that the missile might have been a model capable of following irregular flight paths.
He said there were no reports of damage to Japanese ships or aircraft.
Hamada said that North Korea's actions, including its persistent launches and unilaterally escalating provocations, threaten the peace and security of Japan and the international community, and that Japan cannot tolerate them.
He also said that Japan has lodged a protest with North Korea through its embassy in Beijing.
Hamada said conclusively determining the intention of the North's missile launches was difficult. But he pointed out that Pyongyang has claimed it needs to have its own nuclear deterrence to maintain its regime against the US threat. He said this may be why the country is focusing on developing ballistic missiles and improving operational capabilities as the method of transporting nuclear weapons.
Friday's launch marks the 27th such incident this year. The Defense Ministry is gathering and analyzing information, and said it has not ruled out the possibility that more than one missile was launched on Friday.