Japan: North Korean missile flies over island of Hokkaido August 29

Event

The Japanese government announced that North Korea fired a missile over the north of the country on Tuesday, August 29, at around 06:06 (local time). According to reports, the missile landed approximately 1000 km (621 miles) east of the island of Hokkaido. No damages were reported. As a precautionary measure, an emergency alarm was raised and millions of inhabitants in northern Japan were advised to find shelter.

The UN Security Council has agreed to hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday afternoon in New York to discuss North Korea’s nuclear program and to reportedly increase pressure on the rogue state.

Context

This incident follows the firing of three short-range missiles by North Korea over the weekend near Japanese waters and amid the ongoing annual military drills carried out by South Korea and the US. Although North Korea regularly fires missiles into the sea near Japan, it rarely does so over Japanese territory.

The development of North Korea’s nuclear program has been a persistent, global geopolitical concern. Tensions are currently exceptionally high after the country’s two intercontinental ballistic missile tests in July. Both US President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un have resorted to tough rhetoric and have mutually threatened each other in recent months.

Moreover, on August 5, the UN Security Council unanimously voted to enforce a new series of sanctions on North Korea. These aim to hurt the country’s economy by targeting its carbon, iron and fishing industries.

Advice

Individuals in Japan are advised to follow all instructions provided by local authorities and to monitor developments.