Missile launched by Pyongyang lands in Japanese territorial waters

The rocket traveled 1,000 km before landing within 200 nautical miles off the Japanese coast. Tokyo condemns "unforgiveable act of violence". Concern also from South Korea and the United States.

Pyongyang (AsiaNews/Agencies) – North Korea has test-fired a ballistic missile which landed in Japanese waters, the South and Japan say. The missile was launched at about 7.50 am (local time) from a region in South Hwanghae province to the south-west of the capital Pyongyang and travelled 1,000km (620 miles). It is the first time that a north Korean missile test ends inside its Japan exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the 200-nautical mile of ocean around a country over which it has jurisdiction.

The US Strategic Command said two missiles had been fired simultaneously on Wednesday and that one exploded immediately after launch.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said it posed a grave threat to Japan's security, calling it an "unforgiveable act of violence".

The North is barred from developing nuclear and ballistic missile technology by UN resolution, but Kim Jong-un ordered several ballistic tests in the past weeks. On July 19, North Korea launched three ballistic missiles with a range of 500-600 km.

This morning launch follows the economic and diplomatic sanctions US government has imposed against North Korea and the decision made by Washington and Seoul to build an advanced Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti- missile system in the South. China and Russia are all against the decision.

• north korea
• rocket
• ballistic missile
• japan
• shinzo abe
• kim jong-un
• south korea
• united states
• thaad