Japan: "One of North Korea's Missiles Estimated as ICBM... Did Not Pass Over Japanese Airspace" (Summary)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
Photo by EPA Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyeon-jin] On the morning of the 3rd, North Korea launched multiple missiles into the East Sea, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that one of the missiles launched is presumed to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Initially, it was believed that the missile passed over Japanese airspace, prompting emergency alerts in Miyagi Prefecture, Yamagata Prefecture, and Niigata Prefecture, but the Japanese government later revised this, stating that the missile did not pass over the airspace.

According to reports, around 7:50 a.m. that day, the Japanese government confirmed an object presumed to be a ballistic missile flying from North Korea. Subsequently, through the nationwide alert system (J-ALERT), which urgently relays information to local governments via satellite, warnings were issued in Miyagi, Yamagata, and Niigata prefectures advising people to "take shelter inside buildings or underground."

Following the evacuation alerts, local media reported breaking news that "North Korean missile passed over Japanese airspace," but this was later found to be inaccurate. The Japanese Ministry of Defense stated, "There was information that the (North Korean) missile launched at 7:48 a.m. had passed over the Japanese archipelago, but it was confirmed that it did not pass over and was destroyed over the East Sea."

Japanese media reported that North Korea fired missiles, possibly ballistic missiles, three times that morning. Japanese Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu said that another missile appeared to have reached a maximum altitude of about 2,000 km and flew approximately 750 km before falling, adding, "It is judged to be a medium- to long-range ballistic missile."

NHK reported that Prime Minister Kishida held a National Security Council (NSC) meeting immediately after North Korea’s missile launch, received related information, and discussed future responses. After the meeting, Prime Minister Kishida told reporters that one of the missiles launched by North Korea could be an ICBM. Defense Minister Hamada said, "Since multiple missiles were launched (from North Korea), we will analyze them carefully."

Meanwhile, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that they detected one long-range ballistic missile and two short-range ballistic missiles from North Korea that day. According to the Joint Chiefs, one missile presumed to be a long-range ballistic missile was launched from the Sunan area in Pyongyang toward the East Sea around 7:40 a.m., and two missiles presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles were launched from the Kaechon area in South Pyongan Province toward the East Sea starting at 8:39 a.m.

The long-range ballistic missile underwent stage separation, with the propulsion unit and warhead separating, leading the military to analyze that this missile is highly likely to be an ICBM.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.