North Korea fires missile over Japan, some trains suspended

People watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a railway station in Seoul on 25 May 2022 (file picture). Photo: AFP

North Korea has fired a ballistic missile over Japan, prompting a warning for residents to take cover and a temporary suspension of train operations in northern Japan.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Japanese coast guard reported on the missile test, which was launched off North Korea's east coast.

The Japanese government warned citizens to take cover as the missile appeared to have flown over and past its territory before falling into the Pacific ocean. But it said it did not use any defence measures to destroy the missile.

TV Asahi, citing an unnamed government source, said North Korea might have fired an intercontinental ballistic missile and it fell into the sea some 3000km from Japan.

The latest launch was Pyongyang's fifth in 10 days, amid military muscle-flexing by the United States and South Korea, which conducted trilateral anti-submarine exercises last week with Japanese naval forces.

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta, having just emerged from meeting with her Solomon Islands counterpart Jeremiah Manele in Wellington, said she had not been briefed on the matter but New Zealand's position on nuclear non-proliferation was clear.

"New Zealand's been a long advocate for the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and our stance has been well articulated over a number of years. It is concerning," she said.

"By and large, having any type of nuclear activity in our region will be a matter of high concern."

Manele expressed similar concerns.

"We share the same position that the minister has alluded to, it is a concern and one that we condemn."

South Korea staged its own show of advanced weaponry on Saturday to mark its Armed Forces Day, including multiple rocket launchers, ballistic missiles, main battle tanks, drones and F-35 fighters.

The test prompted East Japan Railway Co to suspend its train operations in the northern regions, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported.

The North has completed preparations for a nuclear test, which it might look to undertake sometime between China's Communist Party Congress this month and US mid-term elections in November, South Korean lawmakers said last week.

- Reuters / RNZ