On Thursday, North Korea test-fired a new type of ballistic missile, sparking brief alarm in Japan when thousands were ordered to flee to underground shelters.
The missile, not yet officially identified, was launched from the Pyongyang area and traveled about 1,000 kilometers before crashing into the sea east of the North Korean coast, reaching a maximum altitude of 6,000 kilometers.
An initial assessment of its trajectory suggested it could pass over the island of Hokkaido in northern Japan, prompting local authorities to issue an alert to more than five million residents, warning them to seek asylum immediately.
Some trains were suspended and school reopenings were delayed, with some moments of panic and confusion in some places, but the alarm was eventually lifted about 15 minutes later, after authorities reconsidered the missile’s intended trajectory.
“People’s safety is our priority,” Minister Hirokazu Matsuno justified.
The test will involve a new medium-range intercontinental missile, first unveiled at a military parade in Pyongyang in February, that could be powered by a new solid-fuel engine tested in December, North Korean officials said.
Author: Ricardo Ramos
Source: CM Jornal
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.