N’Korea directs intermediate-range missile at Japan

Tension is on the high in Eastern Asia after defiant North Korea headed by iron fisted leader Kim Jong-un fired two intermediate-range missiles within hours in the direction of its neighbours Japan.

Reports say Pyongyang fired the missile to a high altitude in the direction of Japan before it plunged into the sea, military officials said. The move turned out to be a technological advance for the isolated state after several test failures.

According to South Korea which has noted that North Korea was courting more sanctions from the UN, the launch of the missile came about two hours after a similar test failed, and it covered 400 km (250 miles), more than halfway towards the southwest coast of Japan’s main island of Honshu.

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Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani said the second missile reached an altitude of 1,000 km (620 miles), indicating North Korea had made progress.

“We don’t know whether it counts as a success, but North Korea has shown some capability with IRBMs (intermediate range ballistic missiles),” he told reporters in Tokyo.

“The threat to Japan is intensifying.” Nakatani noted.

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