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News summary on the way home from work, Subsletter Evening.
North Korea fired short-range ballistic missiles day by day and then fired intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs), raising the level of provocation.
Because the missile passed across the Japanese archipelago.
The Japanese had a day of tension as news of a North Korean missile launch flew in during rush hour, but it is said that the Japanese people's anxiety and fear about North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles is more than ours.
"Strongly criticized violently"... dire Japanese government
Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno, a spokesman for the Japanese government, held an emergency press conference and announced the launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) from North Korea.
Minister Matsuno said, "A missile launched from inland North Korea around 7:22 a.m. today (4th) passed through the airspace near Aomori Prefecture at the northern tip of Japan's Tohoku region at 7:44 a.m. Japan It is believed to have fallen into the Pacific Ocean outside of the EEZ.”
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Minister Matsuno also disclosed the contents of the protest against North Korea, saying, "The launch of a ballistic missile through the sky without prior notice is extremely problematic from the point of view of the safety of aircraft and ships as well as the residents of the transit area. "We made a strict protest against North Korea through the Beijing embassy channel, and denounced it in the strongest terms."
Prime Minister Kishida also met with reporters at the prime minister's residence and criticized North Korea, saying, "I am strongly accusing you of violence." .
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It is said that Foreign Minister Hayashi discussed the direction of a joint response while talking on the phone with US Secretary of State Blincoln and South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin.
It is the first time in five years that a North Korean missile has passed through Japan, and fear of missiles is sweeping the Japanese archipelago for the first time in five years.
At work time... Train service suspended due to evacuation order
The emergency systems also worked for the first time in five years, and the missile launch information delivery system Em-Net and the national patrol warning system (J-ALERT) were activated, and missile information was disseminated in real time for the first time in five years.
J-ALERT was originally a system to prepare for natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, but it was included as North Korean missiles directly threatened Japan.
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According to the J-ALERT, a warning was issued for residents of Hokkaido, the northernmost part of the Japanese archipelago and Aomori Prefecture, the northernmost part of Honshu, to "evacuate in the building or underground".
Also included in the warning were the contents of the warning, "A missile is expected to pass over Hokkaido and Aomori Prefecture at around 7:29 am and pass into the Pacific Ocean." .
Public broadcaster NHK stopped regular broadcasting and repeatedly notified local residents of an evacuation warning, and some newspapers published extracurriculars.
The operation of some sections of the Tohoku Shinkansen was temporarily suspended in the morning and then resumed, and the Sapporo subway was also temporarily suspended.
Fear from North Korea summoned after 5 years
This is the seventh time a North Korean missile has passed through the Japanese archipelago.
First in August 1998 (Tohoku), then April 2009 (Tohoku), December 2012 (Okinawa), February 2016 (Okinawa), August 2017 (Hokkaido), September 2017 (Hokkaido) Between Tohoku) each North Korean missile passed over Japan.
Let's look at the trajectory of the ballistic missiles that passed twice in 2017, five years ago when rumors of a crisis on the Korean Peninsula circulated.
The missile launched on August 29, 2017 had a maximum altitude of 550 km and a flight distance of about 2,700 km.
All were analyzed to be the same Hwasong-12 that was launched this time.
At this time, the shock of Japan was considerable, and it is said that the day after the missile passed in August, they even conducted an evacuation drill for residents in Ishikawa Prefecture, which is south of the missile passage point.
It was a training that assumed a situation where a missile was flying from North Korea.
The Japanese government was considering whether underground spaces such as subway stations, underground shopping malls, and underground parking lots could be used as evacuation facilities, and then stopped.
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The flight distance of the ballistic missile launched this time is about 4,500 km, so it is the farthest away. As a more advanced missile passed through the Japanese archipelago, the Japanese recalled the memories of five years ago.
There is an analysis that North Korea fired a missile over Japan and it could be a warning to the strengthening of security cooperation between South Korea, the US and Japan. It is analyzed that North Korea was outright dissatisfied with this.
It is clear that North Korea is reminding us that Japan is not safe.
Why is Japan's security insecurity high?
For the Japanese, North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles are feared.
It is because there are so many natural disasters and it is the only experience in the world that has been subjected to a nuclear attack.
It is said that the nightmare of the atomic bombing still weighs on the Japanese.
There are many predictions that North Korea will raise the level of provocations further after launching a medium-range ballistic missile.
It is said that the provocations will continue with the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and the seventh nuclear test.
Experts say that it would not be strange to conduct the 7th nuclear test now, as it has been detected that North Korea has already entered the preparation process.
Because of this, Japan is even more nervous. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno said, "I think there is a possibility that North Korea will carry out additional provocations, including conducting a nuclear test, but I will refrain from commenting on specific information and analysis." I was talking about limiting the possibilities.
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Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun reported a report citing an official from the Ministry of Defense, who diagnosed that "the purpose of promoting technology improvement is stronger than the political meaning of checking South Korea, the United States and Japan." This) is to establish missile technology capable of carrying small tactical nuclear weapons.”
You can read what Japan is afraid of.
There is a possibility that the Japanese people's security insecurity will increase, speeding up discussions on strengthening defense capabilities.
With the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February of this year, there are growing calls within Japan that it should double its defense budget within five years and possess the so-called 'counterattack capability' (ability to attack enemy bases). there might be
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This is a photo of the candlelight vigil in which Indonesian soccer fans participated.
In Indonesia, there is an event to commemorate the victims of the soccer field disaster, and it is said that a wave of condolences is rising online, including social media.
(Photo = Yonhap News)