Kim launches missile into Japanese waters

NORTH Korea fired a ballistic missile into Japanese territory last night.

It appeared to fly for about 45 minutes – longer than any of its previous missiles – before landing in waters between Japan and the Korean Peninsula.

The United States confirmed that Kim Jong-un launched an intercontinental ballistic missile at 11.41pm.

A Pentagon spokesman said: ‘The missile was launched from Mupyong-ni and travelled about 1,000km before splashing down in the Sea of Japan.’ South Korea and Japan held national security meetings in the early hours.

Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe said: ‘We will do our utmost to protect the safety of the Japanese people.’

On July 4, North Korea testlaunched what it claimed was its first ICBM in defiance of a United Nations ban. It flew for 39 minutes and landed in the Pacific Ocean.

Analysts said the Hwasong-14 missile was capable of reaching most of Alaska or possibly Hawaii.