The U.S. and South Korea fired several missiles late on Tuesday in responses to North Korea’s provocation earlier this week in firing a ballistic missile over Japan.
The Japanese government broadcast a warning across the country early Tuesday morning local time after North Korea fired the missile in the direction of the northern part of the country, an apparent escalation. The missile eventually flew overhead and continued into the Pacific Ocean. It was the fifth missile launch in the past 10 days and the 23rd launch since the start of the year.
The U.S. and South Korea fired four surface-to-surface missiles in response to North Korea’s latest nuclear provocation, according to a report from Yonhap News Agency.
The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo promoted Japan’s warning on Monday following the missile launch, saying that there was a “possibility it’s heading toward Japan.”
Videos online showed air raid sirens blasting throughout the country urging people to take cover pending the incoming strike.
SOUND ON: Air raid sirens wail in cities and towns around Japan, after North Korea fired a ballistic missile over the country, prompting the Japanese government to warn citizens to take shelter. https://t.co/Y4YR7eXv8S pic.twitter.com/LRvYhsY4II
— ABC News (@ABC) October 4, 2022
Sirens rang out across Japan after North Korea fired a ballistic missile over the country without warning.
Today's top stories 👉 https://t.co/PAiZ4DiULB pic.twitter.com/hfM9NFOIy0
— Sky News (@SkyNews) October 4, 2022
“You can’t ever get used to that sound,” said 72-year-old resident Kazuyuki Tsuchiya. “It makes me feel so scared.”
The ballistic missile fired by North Korea traveled nearly 3,000 miles, the longest distance the isolated nation has ever fired a projectile.
Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, said, “The Kim regime is developing weapons such as tactical nuclear warheads and submarine-launched ballistic missiles as part of a long-term strategy to outrun South Korea in an arms race and drive wedges among U.S. allies.”
The New York Times reported that officials believe that based on the height the missile reached, 602 miles, the missile was a long-range ballistic missile, capable of hitting Guam. The last time that North Korea fired a missile over Japan was back in September 2017.
When former President Donald Trump (R) was in the White House, he threatened North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un to knock off making threats against the United States.
“North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States,” Trump said. “They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen. He has been very threatening … and as I said they will be met with fire, fury and frankly power, the likes of which this world has never seen before.”
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