A man walks past a television screen broadcasting a report of an early morning North Korean missile launch that triggered an evacuation alert in Tokyo, northeast of Japan, September 29, 2022. RICHARD A. BROOKS/AFP
Evacuation alert in the north of the country, television programs suspended, transport halted… Japan woke up on Tuesday 4 October in the morning with a threat hanging over its head. North Korea has launched an unidentified ballistic missile that flew over the northern archipelago, the South Korean military said. In Seoul, President Yoon Seok-youl promises a “firm response.”
The missile passed over Japan’s Tohoku region in the north of the country without causing casualties or damage, Japanese government secretary-general Hirokazu Matsuno said during an emergency press conference held at 8:10 a.m. (1:10 a.m in France): “North Korea launched a ballistic missile in a north-northeast direction at 7:22 a.m. It flew over our country in the north of the country and would have fallen outside territorial waters into the Pacific Ocean at about 7:49 a.m..” This is the first time a missile has passed over the archipelago in five years.
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“This is an act of violence that follows the repeated and recent firing of ballistic missiles. We condemn this in the strongest possible terms,” Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters.
North Korea, which has nuclear weapons, has launched an intensive campaign of testing its armaments this year; it culminated a few days ago with four short-range ballistic missile launches.
Public broadcaster NHK has switched to “J-Alert” mode, the system that warns the Japanese in an emergency. The headband indicates that a rocket has flown over the country. In Tokyo, October 4, 2022. EUGENE HOSHIKO/AP
The missile fired Tuesday morning led to a rare activation of the J-Alert system, which appeared on the screens of national broadcaster NHK, urging residents in the north and north-east of the archipelago to seek shelter. Two images of the coast and commercial ports followed each other for minutes to dress government messages in red and yellow: “A missile flew over the country! If you see debris on the ground or at sea, stay away. Contact your local police or ambulance. “. In addition, operations on some railway lines were suspended.
“A serious attack on our country”
“This shot could have a profound impact on the lives of the Japanese. We collect information about fallen debris. We stand ready to defend ourselves and we will act. North Korea’s actions are damaging the region. This is a serious attack on our country,” said Hirozaku Matsuno.
Japanese Prime Minister Hirokazu Matsuno (centre) arrives at the Prime Minister’s office in Tokyo, Japan, October 4, 2022. 081043+0900 / AP
Seoul, Tokyo and Washington held trilateral anti-submarine military drills for the first time in five years on Sept. 30, and days after US and South Korean naval forces conducted large-scale maneuvers across the peninsula’s vast expanse. In response to these sorties, between September 25 and 29, Pyongyang fired six short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea (Sea of Japan).
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North Korea is under UN sanctions over its weapons programs, and negotiations have long been deadlocked. The country has conducted a record number of weapons tests this year and revised its legislation to make its status as a nuclear power “irreversible”.