Japan "North Korean Missile Flight 400km Drops Outside EEZ..."Protest the North"

The Japanese government announced this morning (5th) that North Korea fired several ballistic missiles and appeared to have fallen into the sea outside its exclusive economic zone.

According to NHK and Kyodo News, Japan's Defense Minister Ken Nakatani said North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles in the northeast direction near the west coast.

Defense Minister Nakatani explained that at least seven of them were observed to have flown 400 kilometers at a maximum altitude of about 100 kilometers.

He then said he severely protested and condemned North Korea, saying that North Korea's ballistic missile launch threatens peace and security in Japan and the international community.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said, "So far, no damage information has been confirmed," adding, "We have ordered the provision of information to the public and thorough safety checks."

Japan's maritime security agency asked sailing ships to pay attention to relevant information.

Earlier, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff also said North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on the same day.

Kyodo News analyzed, "North Korea seems to have been trying to show off its military improvement in time for the U.S. presidential election and protest against the South Korea-U.S.-Japan aerial training involving the U.S. strategic bomber B-1B."