South Korea says North has fired another missile

Flight over Japan was the second in less than a month, following a nuclear test

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — South Korea’s military said North Korea fired an unidentified missile Friday from its capital, Pyongyang, that flew over Japan before landing in the northern Pacific Ocean.

It was the second aggressive test flight over the territory of the close U.S. ally in less than a month, and it followed the sixth and most powerful nuclear test by North Korea to date on Sept. 3.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile traveled about 2,300 miles while reaching a maximum height of 478 miles.

North Korea last month used the airport to fire a Hwasong-12 intermediate range missile that flew over northern Japan.

The North declared it a “meaningful prelude” to containing the U.S. Pacific island territory of Guam and the start of more ballistic missile launches toward the Pacific Ocean.

South Korean experts said the August launch was Pyongyang’s attempt to make missiles flying over Japan an accepted norm as it seeks to test new projectiles and win more military space in the region dominated by its enemies.

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense said the latest launch posed no immediate threat to Guam or the Marianas.

South Korea’s Defense Ministry said the country’s military conducted a live-fire drill of a Hyunmoo-2 ballistic missile in response to the North’s launch.

President Moon Jae-in has instructed South Korean officials to pursue “stern” diplomatic and military measures to discourage North Korea from further provocations after its latest missile launch. Presidential spokesman Park Su-hyun said Friday after a National Security Council meeting that Moon also called for stronger preparation against the threat of biological and chemical weapons attacks by the North.

The U.N. Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting on North Korea’s missile launch. Ethiopia’s U.N. Mission, which holds the council presidency this month, said closed-door consultations will take place Friday afternoon.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is calling on all nations to take new measures against Kim Jong Un’s regime after North Korea’s latest missile launch.