JAPAN RATTLED AFTER PYONGYANG FIRES MISSILE OVER NORTHERN ISLAND

North Korea fired an unidentified projectile from its capital Pyongyang that flew over Japan before plunging into the northern Pacific Ocean, officials said Tuesday, an especially aggressive test-flight that will rattle an already anxious region.

Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff on Tuesday said the missile travelled around 2,700 km and reached a maximum height of 550 km as it flew over the Japanese island of Hokkaido. The JCS said it was analyzing the launch and that South Korea’s military had strengthened its monitoring and preparation in case of further actions from North Korea. Japanese officials said there was no damage to ships or anything else reported. Japan’s NHK TV said the missile separated into three parts.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters, “We will do our utmost to protect people’s lives.”

The launch comes days after the North fired what was assessed as three short-range ballistic missiles into the sea and a month after its second flight test of an intercontinental ballistic missile, which analysts say could reach deep into the U.S. mainland when perfected.

North Korea typically reacts with anger to U.S.-South Korean military drills, which are happening now, often staging weapons tests and releasing threats to Seoul and Washington in its state-controlled media.