North Korea Launches Missile That Flew Over Japan

It seems like the world can never catch a break. On Monday, North Korea fired a missile that flew over Japan before crashing into the sea. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called it the “most serious and grave” threat to the country.

The missile was shot off at around 6 a.m. in Japan. The launch set off warnings in the northern part of the country warning people to get to safety in solid buildings or underground shelters.

Before breaking into three pieces and falling into the Pacific Ocean, the missile flew over Erimomisaki Island of Hokkaido landing about 1,180 kilometers off the Japanese coast, according to CNN. The missile took flight for about 2,700 kilometers and reached an altitude of 550 kilometers before hitting the water at around 6:29 am. local time.

There hasn’t been an immediate report of damage of the fallen objects and no damage to the ships or aircraft,” said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga in an emergency press conference.

This isn’t the first time this has happened. North Korea has staged dozens of missile tests under their leader Kim Jong-Un but over the mainland of Japan is rare. No action was taken by the Japanese military to shoot the missile down, but the Abe says he will ask the United Nations to raise the pressure on North Korea.