Expected launch of North Korean missile into Japan’s EEZ
The launch of a North Korean missile into Japan’s exclusive economic zones (EEZ) is expected.
It was Pyongyang’s second rocket launch in as many days as the isolated nation keeps up a record-breaking blitz that has stoked fears of a nuclear test.
According to Tokyo’s defence ministry on Friday, a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile fired by North Korea is “currently flying” and could end up in Japan’s commercial waters.
North Korea claimed responsibility for the launch of an ICBM-class ballistic missile at approximately 10.14 am (01.14 GMT) today, according to a statement.
Tokyo’s defence ministry said on Friday: “North Korea launched an ICBM-class ballistic missile from near the western coast of the Korean Peninsula at around 10.14am (01.14 GMT) today,” it said in a statement.
“Details are being analysed, but the fired ballistic missile is currently flying and may fall into the Sea of Japan within Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).”
Details are being investigated, but the launched ballistic missile is currently in flight and could crash into the Sea of Japan within Japan’s EEZ.
The missile was predicted to land in the waters 210 kilometres west of Oshima Oshima Island off Hokkaido in northern Japan at around 11.20 local time (02.20 GMT), according to the Japanese coastguard, citing the defence ministry. However, there was no immediate confirmation that it had done so.
Without providing any additional information, a South Korean defence official told AFP that they “estimated that North Korea had fired an ICBM.”
Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, says North Korea may have timed the move to try and put a damper on this growing cooperation.
“Pyongyang is trying to disrupt international cooperation against it by escalating military tensions and suggesting it has the capability of holding American cities at risk of nuclear attack,” he added.
