The US military tracked the launch but said it was unlikely an intercontinental ballistic missile.
“The type of missile is being assessed and the flight was not consistent with an intercontinental ballistic missile,” added the spokesperson for the US military Pacific Command.
Chief Japanese Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, called the latest test a violation of UN resolutions as he and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned the move and issued a strong protest over North Korean actions.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary said North Korea launched the ballistic missile which flew for about 30 minutes before crashing into to the Sea of Japan. Suga added that the missile appears to have fallen outside of Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Pyongyang’s ballistic missile flew around 700 kilometres, South Korea’s military said.
On Sunday, Beijing called upon all the parties to refrain from escalating tensions after Pyongyang fired the missile.
“At present, the situation on the peninsula is complex and sensitive, and all relevant parties should exercise restraint and do nothing to further worsen regional tensions,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
UN Security Council Resolutions forbid Pyongyang from conducting ballistic missile tests and China said: “it opposes relevant launch activities by North Korea that are contrary to Security Council resolutions.”
North Korea’s alleged ballistic missile test is the country’s first since South Korea elected Moon Jae-in as their new president.
