North Korea fired a ballistic missile over Japan on Tuesday, prompting a warning for residents to take cover and a temporary suspension of train operations in the country's north.
The missile appeared to have flown over and past Japanese territory before falling into the Pacific ocean. But the Japanese government said it did not use any defence measures to destroy the missile.
It fell into the Pacific Ocean about 3000km from Japan, TV Asahi reported citing a government source. South Korea's military has said it was a mid-range missile.
Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida slammed North Korea for its "barbaric" actions, while chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Pyongyang's repeated actions were a serious challenge to international peace.
Matsuno said Japan would work closely with the UN Security Council on the matter. Kyodo news agency reported Japan's government would convene a national security committee meeting.
The test prompted East Japan Railway Co to suspend its train operations in the northern regions, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported.
It was North Korea's fifth launch in 10 days, amid military muscle-flexing by the US and South Korea, which conducted trilateral anti-submarine exercises last week with Japanese naval forces.
South Korea staged its own show of advanced weaponry on Saturday to mark its Armed Forces Day, including multiple rocket launchers, ballistic missiles, main battle tanks, drones and F-35 fighters.
The North has completed preparations for a nuclear test, which it might look to undertake sometime between China's Communist Party Congress this month and US mid-term elections in November, South Korean lawmakers said last week.
Reuters / Newshub.
