Abe terms Pyongyang's missile launch as 'an unprecedented, grave and serious threat'

Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday called the launch of ballistic missiles, which has reportedly passed over Japanese territory as "an unprecedented, grave and serious threat" that damages the peace and security of the region.

Abe added that Tokyo had lodged a firm protest with Pyongyang on the same and added that the government would take "full steps" to ensure the safety of it nationals, reported the Japanese Times.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Taro Kono said that the government is requesting the United Nation to convene a United Nations Security Council meeting on the same.

North Korea, on Tuesday morning, launched ballistic missiles, which has reportedly passed over Japan, has broken into three pieces and fallen 1,180 kilometers from Cape Erimo into the waters off Hokkaido.

 

No damage or injury has been reported till now; the Japanese Government has said the utmost effort would be made to protect the nation's public.

In the wake of recovery of remains of the parts of missiles, the Japanese Government warned the people in northern Japan to prepare for a potential incoming missile from Pyongyang.

This has been confirmed by the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, who said that the ballistic missile was fired from near Pyongyang.

Even the Pentagon confirmed that North Korea conducted missile launch in last 90 minutes, which flew over Japan.

"We are still in the process of assessing this launch. North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) determined the missile launch from North Korea did not pose a threat to North America," Pentagon spokesman Col. Rob Manning said in a statement.