Politics: Japan is on alert after a North Korean missile flew over its airspace

Japan's NHK News reported that the missile passed over Japan.

North Korea launched what appeared to be a missile headed toward the northern end of Japan about 5:58 a.m. local time, according to Japanese government officials.

Japan's NHK News reported that the missile passed over Japan, warning people in northern Japan to take necessary precautions.

Although three missiles were fired, according to officials, it was not clear if all of them were headed toward the same trajectory.

Japanese officials also said that a missile "blew apart" into three pieces before splashing down into the Pacific Ocean.

South Korean military officials also confirmed reports of the missile launch and said that it flew for 1,677 miles. North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), North America's foremost missile-warning system, determined that the missile did not pose a threat to North America.

During the tense moment, multiple prefectures in Japan were reportedly put on alert.

"We'll take utmost efforts to protect the public," Japanese Prime Minister Shinz? Abe said, shortly following the launch.

The latest act of provocation from North Korea comes amid a spate of questionable moves, despite regional leaders, including Russia, denouncing North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

Following a Washington Post report that revealed North Korea's surprising advancement in their nuclear-missile program, President Donald Trump said North Korea's threats would be "met with fire and fury like the world has never seen."

US-North Korean rhetoric grew hotter once North Korea threatened to strike the US territory of Guam, and after Trump doubled down on his initial statement by saying that it "wasn't tough enough."

South Korean President Moon Jae-in recently called for his county to prepare to "immediately switch to offensive operations" if the North makes a "provocation that crosses the line," NK News reported.

The latest launch was conducted days after Kim Jong Un's regime fired what was believed to be three short-range ballistic missiles into the sea, and a month after an intercontinental ballistic missile flight test, the Associated Press reported.

Here's an initial illustration of the missile's trajectory:

Japan's NHK News reported that the missile passed over Japan. Read Full Story