North Korea’s missile launch over Japan escalates tensions
By Ali Mustafayev
After the North Korea launched a ballistic missile over Northern Japan, the officials of Hokkaido island, which is the nearest to the explosion point, have warned the residents to take precautions.
A Hwasong-12 missile launched on Tuesday from near the capital of Pyongyang flew about 2,700 km and landed in the Pacific Ocean in 1,180 km from Hokkaido, said Yoshihido Suga the Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, RIA Novosti reported.
The governments of the United States, South Korea and Japan immediately reacted, severely criticizing this act.
The North Korea has conducted dozens of ballistic missile tests, the most recent on Saturday, but firing over mainland Japan is out of bounds even for the Kim Jong Un’s government.
The highest level of resentment was expressed by the Japanese government, since the ballistic missile landing near its border violates its national security.
“North Korea’s reckless action is an unprecedented, serious and a grave threat to our nation,” stated Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Reuters reported.
The test followed the U.S.-Korean joint military exercises on the Korean peninsula and considered to be one of the most provocative acts ever from Kim’s regime.
The President of the United States Donald Trump contacted with the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and assured that the United States are “100 percent with Japan.”
South Korean fighter jets bombed a military firing range on Tuesday following a discussion of the situation with the U.S. regarding “strategic asserts” on the Korean peninsula.
“We will respond strongly based on our steadfast alliance with the United States if North Korea continues nuclear and missile provocations,” stated the South’s Foreign Ministry.
Along with the countries of the region and the world’s most powerful organizations, the Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg urged the North Korean regime to stop its missile programs, strongly condemning “aggressive missile launches towards Japan.”
The US, South Korea and Japan required to hold a meeting of the UN Security Council.
North Korea responded in its usual manner.
“The U.S. should know that it can neither browbeat the DPRK with any economic sanctions and military threats and blackmails nor make the DPRK flinch from the road chosen by itself,” stated North Korea’s official Rodong Sinmun later on Tuesday.
Previously, Japan has announced the widening of sanctions against North Korea, which faced the UN sanctions earlier this month due to its missile tests.
Tokyo has now sanctioned 72 organizations and 81 individuals for their dealings with North Korea.
Ever since U.S. President Donald Trump warned Pyongyang not to carry out nuclear tests, tension has been escalating in the region. Washington urges North Korea to abandon its nuclear missile program and refrain from provocative actions.
Although Pyongyang recently stated that it was holding off from the announced missile attacks and stimulated Washington to see probable ways to dialogue, the recent step deteriorated already escalated relations.
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