Japan Alerts Its Citizens Following North Korea’s Missile Launch

Following a North Korean missile launch, the Japanese government ordered Hokkaido residents to seek cover on Thursday morning, April 13.

Japan On High Alert

The Japanese government cautioned inhabitants of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost major island, to seek immediate shelter after North Korea launched a missile that seemed aimed at the island.

As per NDTV reports, just before 8 a.m. local time on Thursday, Japan’s emergency broadcasting system issued an evacuation warning. However, it was quickly revoked since the system had incorrectly anticipated that a missile would crash close to the island.

North Korea On South Korean-US Relations 

The launch comes two days after North Korean official media KCNA stated that leader Kim Jong Un called for boosting the country’s military deterrence in a “more practical and offensive” way to counter what it dubbed US aggression manoeuvres.

The recent joint military drills between the United States and South Korea have drawn criticism from North Korea for raising tensions and prompting an increase in its recent missile testing. In particular, Pyongyang has denounced previous US strategic weapon deployments, including those involving long-range bombers and aircraft carrier strike groups.

Up from the 800,000 announced just two days prior, more than 1.4 million North Koreans have offered to join or re-enlist in the military to fight against Seoul and Washington.

Shortly before the alarm, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that North Korea had fired a missile into the sea off the Korean Peninsula’s east coast. The coast guard of Japan also reported that North Korea fired what seemed to be a ballistic missile.

According to South Korean military experts, the missile had an intermediate to long range.

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