North Korea ‘fires missile into sea’ as Japanese residents take cover

North Korea has launched a missile into the sea, Japan and South Korea said, hours after Pyongyang announced plans to put a rocket into orbit allegedly carrying its second military reconnaissance satellite.

North Korea had earlier notified Japan’s coast guard about its plans to launch ‘a satellite rocket’ between today and June 3.

Japanese residents in the south of the country reportedly took cover, before officials later lifted the missile alert issued for the island of Okinawa, saying that the missile was believed not to be headed for its region.

North Korea sent its first military reconnaissance satellite into orbit in November last year as part of efforts to build a space-based surveillance network to cope with what it calls increasing US-led military threats.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later told a ruling party meeting that the country would launch three additional military spy satellites in 2024.

The UN bans North Korea from conducting any satellite launches, viewing them as covers for testing long-range missile technology.

North Korea has steadfastly maintained it has the right to launch satellites and test missiles.

Mr Kim has said spy satellites will allow his military to better monitor US and South Korean military activities and enhance the threat posed by its nuclear-capable missiles.

North Korea provides Japan with its launch information because Japan’s coast guard co-ordinates and distributes maritime safety information in East Asia.

North Korea said it would launch three new military spy satellites into space in 2024 to make itself ‘overwhelmingly’ ready for an ‘inevitable’ war.

Leader Kim Jong-un also warned he is bolstering the nation’s nuclear arsenal, building military drones and introducing modern unmanned combat equipment. 

The 39-year-old lashed out at the US, claiming moves by Washington have been unprecedented and are making it impossible to avoid conflict, state media reported.

Mr Kim has been focusing on modernising his nuclear and missile arsenals since his high-stakes nuclear diplomacy with then-president Donald Trump broke down in 2019 due to wrangling over international sanctions on the North.

Since 2022, the country’s military has test-fired more than 100 ballistic missiles, many of them nuclear-capable weapons targeting the mainland US and South Korea, in violation of UN bans.

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