The Ministry of Defense announced at 10:18 am on the 18th that a possible ballistic missile was launched from North Korea.

The Ministry of Defense is gathering information to see if there is any impact on Japan.



South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff has announced that North Korea's eastward-launched ballistic missile is believed to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

Government convenes emergency gathering team

The government has convened an emergency gathering team made up of officials from related ministries and agencies to the Prime Minister's Office's Crisis Management Center, and is collecting information and confirming the damage.

Launched ballistic missiles, etc. 34th time since entering this year

According to the Ministry of Defense, this is the 34th time North Korea has launched a ballistic missile.



So far, 7 times in January, 1 time in February, 3 times in March, 1 time in April, 4 times in May, 1 time in June, 1 time in August, 3 times in September , seven times in October, and five times this month, respectively.



In particular, from the end of September to this month, a total of 15 launches have been carried out one after another at an unprecedented frequency.

North Korea repeats launches with unusual frequency

North Korea has repeatedly launched missiles at an unprecedented frequency, continuing from October to this month.



On the 2nd of this month, more than 20 missiles were launched, including one that crossed the sea demarcation line for the first time since the division of North and South Korea.



On the 3rd, one ICBM (a possible intercontinental ballistic missile) was launched from near Sunan in the suburbs of Pyongyang, and two short-range ballistic missiles were launched from near Kechon, South Pyongan Province.



Also, on the same night, three short-range ballistic missiles were launched from the inland area near Goksan, North Province, Hwanghae.



On the 5th, four short-range ballistic missiles were launched from near Tongrim, North Pyongan Province in the northwest.



On the 9th, one short-range ballistic missile was launched from the vicinity of Sukchong, South Pyongan Province in the west, and one from the vicinity of Wonsan in the east on the 17th.



*Sunan, Pyeongan, Gyecheon, Hwanghae, Goksan, Dongrim, Sukcheon, Wonsan