Pyongyang launches another missile over Japan

An open response to sanctions decided by the UN. Yesterday, North Korea threatened to destroy Japan and reduce the United States into "ash". Critics of China and Russia who still support the North’s economy. Emergency meeting of the Security Council.

Seoul (AsiaNews) - For the second time in a few weeks, North Korea launched another ballistic missile over Japan. Southern Army sources say the missile reached an altitude of about 770 km and traveled for 3700 km until it landed in the sea around the island of Hokkaido.

On August 29, Pyongyang had launched another missile with a similar trajectory, but shorter. On September 3, it conducted a nuclear test, claiming it was an experiment with a potent hydrogen bomb. Because of this, on September 11, the UN Security Council voted unanimously to increase economic sanctions. Today’s launch seems to be a contemptuous response to the UN move, continuing to pursue the project of nuclear power capable of hitting the US. Yesterday, the Northern State Agency, the KCNA, threatened to destroy Japan and reduce the United States to "ashes."

The reactions to the last launch were not short in coming. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has stated that Tokyo will "never tolerate" such "dangerous and provocative actions". South Korean President Moon Jae-in condemned the "thoughtless provocation" and said "in this way dialogue [with the North] becomes impossible". US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has condemned the launch and criticized Russia and China, who have protected North Korea from heavier sanctions from the Security Council. "China - he said - provides North Korea with most of its oil. Russia employs the largest number of North Korean prisoners in forced labor. "

At the request of Japan and the United States, the UN Security Council will meet today.

• north korea
• south korea
• japan
• china
• united states
• russia
• united nations
• sanctions
• missile
• nuclear program
• moon jae-in
• kim jong-un