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N Korean ICBM may have failed in flight, officials say; residents in Japan told to shelter

57 Comments
By Kantaro Komiya and Hyonhee Shin

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57 Comments
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Was it their 5 minute missile

-25 ( +1 / -26 )

Big fuss about nothing. No way would North Korea waste a missile on the agricultural prefectures of northern Japan.

-12 ( +18 / -30 )

Why not shoot it down?

The Japanese government's own words:

"At this very moment, the SDF is monitoring the area surrounding Japan by using radars, satellites, aircraft and ships. In order to promptly respond to ballistic missiles flying to Japan, an automatic warning and control system called Japan Aerospace Defense Ground Environment (JADGE) is gathering and processing information captured by radars across the country. The system automatically calculates the possible impact area and can instantaneously order Aegis destroyers on the remote ocean to intercept missiles."

https://www.mod.go.jp/en/d_architecture/missile_defense/index.html#:~:text=In%20order%20to%20promptly%20respond,by%20radars%20across%20the%20country.

Or perhaps they are actually unable to, or even unwilling too try. Imagine the outcry if they took the shot and it failed to being the Norrh Korean threat down? More than just red faces all around.

7 ( +13 / -6 )

Thank you North Korea for helping the LDP sell the defense buildup to the Japanese people. Soon Japan will have hypersonic missiles, we in Japan look forward to sending them over North Korea.

6 ( +19 / -13 )

Good points by tots and Red.

why not shoot it down?

perhaps because there is no missile to shoot down and all this scaremongering is just to convince the public they need protection from the always smiling guy from North Korea.

These military parades they have are all props. The country is skint.

-6 ( +12 / -18 )

More quality input from Yrral.

Much ado about nothing. Time to stop letting the DPRK know that we know they’re launching their tin cans. No point in shooting down a piece of junk.

10 ( +17 / -7 )

What would happen if one of those missiles falls by mistake on Japanese soil ??..

Fatty, you'd be in big trouble.

Well, for US, a tragedy like that would suit him. It would rub its cold and bony hands..

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

Again? Lol

Kim's going nuts.

Definitely wants attention desperately.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

This is all preparation for starting WWIII.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

They should have a big blow up doll of Kim right on the DMZ..

Film it being decimated by some South Korean jets...

Broadcast it to the world.

Watch Kim go full retard.

Nuke test #7 on deck.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Putin paid not only for artillery but also for distraction.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Between North Korea, South Korea, China and Russia, Japan is surrounded by aggressive countries looking for a fight. All of this countries are belligerent, aggressive, breaking promises and agreements signed!

Russia literally signed an agreement with Ukraine in the 90s promising no invasion or aggression if Ukraine gives up it's nuclear weapons. Both in 2014 and 2022 that promise and agreement was broken.

North Korea has broken agreements and promises made more then a dozen times both with Japan and USA. Firing missiles or testing weapons is the only way to get attention, money and food.

South Korea just like her brother in the North is equally shady, breaking promises, agreements made, as Final and Irreversible. Using radars to target Japanese planes, took by force Japanese island in the 50s, Both Koreas is equally not reliable or trustworthy!

-10 ( +8 / -18 )

One missile landed in the South Korean sea.

Dear Leader is jealous of the world attention Putin is getting.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

Hell, I'm glad the NK missiles seem to be working well. The way Kim is acting, very easy for a miscalculation to be made in his megalomaniacal petulance.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

As parts of the world hold Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night, the North Korean authorities are sparing no expense in joining in.

“Suddenly, the whole country is engulfed with happiness and the people endlessly inspired.”

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@Awa no Gaijin

Just a joke my friend.

Making fun of Kim's little man syndrome and the cult of personality he seems to take too seriously.

Didn't NK try to kill or hack the release of Seth Rogan's movie a few years back that parodied him.

Full weight of the NK hacking community trying to stop the movie.

I mean come on, lol

Maybe Kim actually thinks he's a God, who know.

He's sure ripe for parody though.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

all the missiles this guy fired and then starved his people. The DPRK has enough hard currency to feed its people. It just doesn’t. So next time they need aid, let’s remember their behavior.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

About 25 minutes after the launch was first reported, Japan's Coast Guard said the missile had already fallen into the Pacific Ocean.

Have a feeling the alert was after the fact. By the time the launch verified, its flight path worked out, permission to issue a warning, passing on the permission to the appropriate authorities. Issuing the waning, either your already dead or it passed over some time before. Leaving you with a feeling of apprehension and a endless news cycle.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Hello, everyone! It’s us again! Please don’t forget about us! I know everyone is focused on Russia and Ukraine, but we’re still a world menace and deserve to be reported on as such!

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Over the last few decades,has there ever been a single missile that had landed on land and cause injuries? These shelter warning are just a annoyance at this point.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

North Korea's repeated missile launches are an outrage and absolutely cannot be forgiven

Well Kishida-san, maybe some constructive dialogue (if such a thing is possible)with North Korea wouldn't go amiss.

As someone not entirely familiar with the history, why does North Korea seem to despise Japan so much?

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Funny isn't it? We have China yelling and screaming that they are going to war over Taiwan, We have Russia attacking and killing thousands of innocent people on a weekly basis, We have Kim Jong Un firing bombs around the country almost hitting Japan, and all of these Dictators say the same thing un unison:

"America is the one causing war, destruction, anarchy, mayhem, and is disrupting peace in the region."

-1 ( +8 / -9 )

*The allies have been conducting one of the largest air exercises ever, with hundreds of South Korean and U.S. warplanes, including F-35 fighters, staging around-the-clock simulated missions.*

*The United States and South Korea began one of their largest combined military air drills on Monday, with hundreds of warplanes from both sides staging mock attacks 24 hours a day for the better part of a week.*

The operation, called Vigilant Storm, will run until Friday, and will feature about 240 warplanes conducting about 1,600 sorties, the U.S. Air Force said.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

North Korea successfully knocked the first two innings of world series game 4 off the NHK broadcast,. Assuming that was their purpose.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

America and its allies are ready to protect and safeguard. Not to start a war. To protect our interests and friends in the region. Not one bomb was dropped in order to kill, only training to protect. Not one person was attacked, yet. However, it takes good old fashion training to protect the people of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan and others in the region.

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

Also, by broadcasting all of this on public media, they managed to tell Kim "hey, we can't really track these things".

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Are they aware that the whole world hates them? Let's stop the Pachinko and the Unification Church.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

N Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles; residents told to shelter:

Besides, Iran & N Korea send kamikaze drones & short range missiles respectively to boost up Russia in Ukraine, Belarus provides every possible military facility for Russia at the border.

Once China decides to support Russia's requests, a new alliance of BRICK (Belarus, Russia, Iran, China, Korea-N) would emerge, forcing the war to escalate.

It is going to be an extremely tough brick to crack. Just a matter of time..

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Why didn't Japan shoot it down?

Do you know how far away a missile is when it is flying over the virtually population free tip of the country at a height of 100 kilometers?

Kim is just shooting off some fireworks in response to US/Japan/South Korean war games.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

No way would North Korea waste a missile on the agricultural prefectures of northern Japan.

Not when they can attack the ocean instead!

One wonders how long they can sustain the multi millions being expended with all these missile launches. They may not contain warheads but the rest of the missiles and fuel costs money.

With their sales of artillery shells to Russia their income has blossomed and they waste much of it firing missiles to posture against the South and Japan.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Despite an initial government warning that a missile had overflown Japan, Tokyo later said that was incorrect.

The government should not keep up their ineffectual warnings.

I have more chance of being run over by my neighbor’s car than being hit by an inert missile…

6 ( +9 / -3 )

It is easy to depict North Korea as a villain. But what else to expect? Korea was occupied by Japan until 1945. One of the Guerilla leaders fighting the Japanese was Kim II. When Japanese lost the war, Korea was split, and the north given away to communist Russia, Kim II becoming North Korea:s leader. The current "fat Kim", is deliberately imitating the look of previous leaders, putting on weight and changing his hairstyle. Of course, he should ignore provocations by US and their followers, and not waste efforts on military buildup. It is a shitty country, but it is because they were put in that shitty situation by their neighbors (and non-neighbors like US).

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said the government had lost track of the missile over the Sea of Japan, prompting it to correct its announcement that it had flown over Japan.

Well that turns out to have been a complete wast of time. Media should be red faced. Half a day of panic, turns out didn’t even get close to Japan?

see the defence ministry is on the ball.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

Spend more money after billions of dollars spent on warning systems, tracking technology, turns out asking your neighbours cat might give you a better idea of what’s happening. Didn’t the Coast Guard confirm a splash down 25 min after warning? Did they neglect to say where?

1 ( +6 / -5 )

The time has come to relinquish the ambition to destroy the DPRK. It is about time to recognize the DPRK and sign a peace treaty with her.

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

ZiziToday  11:29 am JST

As someone not entirely familiar with the history, why does North Korea seem to despise Japan so much?

They don't. At least nowhere near as South Korea and the United States.

North Korea hates South Korea because by hosting US troops, it is the sole obstruction to a unified Korean Penninsula under control of the Kim regime. This goal is stipulated in the preamble to the North Korean constitution.

North Korea hates the United States because we dropped more bombs on North Korea in 1950/51 than we did on Germany and Japan combined 1941-1945.

As for hating Japan, today it's more because they host the most US troops in Asia, rather than historical issues. South Korea has made a bigger issue of WWII issues than the North over the last few decades.

6 ( +13 / -7 )

Ossan,when the last time you lived in America,NK is not the average American worry, because they had not demonstrated,they can successful hit the the US

-14 ( +2 / -16 )

OK, so now we know why NK has to launch so often and so many. Their engineering is poor, and they need to practice to get it right.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

The debris flies the intended trajectory but the warhead drops earlier down like a stone? Interesting and so far unheard new ‘feature’. lol

5 ( +5 / -0 )

The main problem with this dreadful Kim dynasty is that it has become self-perpetuating - the previous incumbents have totally repressed their population, often to the point of mass-starvations taking place, rather than adopt a modernising course to bring North Korea into the 21st Century.

His stock would rise dramatically if he was correctly advised, by turning his back on the stupidity of war-games and amassing lethal weaponry, and emulating the prosperous, industrious and dynamic society represented by the success-story which is South Korea; at least his people would be well-fed and feel safer in pursuing a normal life.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Someone's head is gonna roll.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Not true, you can track the debris with satellites from space. What it REALLY means is the missile has what is called a "FOOTPRINT" and has flown out of the footprint and is no longer "traceable" and all communication is lost so what we missile design engineers do is send a signal to the missile to self destruct and blow up. We do this especially in test because if the missile go over populated areas we don't want it to take out innocent civilians. In this case we know NK did not send a range destruct signal because 30 minutes later it crashed into the sea and yes as the US said "

Retired Vice Admiral and former Japan Maritime Self Defense Force fleet commander Yoji Koda said that the loss of radar tracking on the projectile pointed to a failed launch. "It means at some point in the flight path there was some problem for the missile and it actually came apart," he said "it was "aware" of the launches, without providing details". Loose lips sink ships can't say anymore. We have eyes everywhere.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Awa no Gaijin

The question should be why the US military didn't shoot it down before it got close to Japan.

Why should the US waste millions of dollars on a failed NK missile that they are tracking knowing its going to crash in the ocean?

Japan is paying for protection and hosting to the US military.

If the missile failed and landed in Japan then the US military would seem incompetent ?

LMFAO** the failed NK missile totally fail its objective so wouldn't that tell you who is incompetent?**

And what about all these missiles landing in the ocean?

You best believe the US IS retrieving them and they can be found!!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Location, Location 35.7,139.7 is Japan enemy number one target,even Google driving directions can be used for military purposes,with of database of GPS Coordinates

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Fire one back or stop complaining.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Political theatre and scaremongering. Takes folks minds off domestic issues.

Ignore it all and get on with your day.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Location, Location 35.7,139.7 is Japan enemy number one target,

More absolute rubbish from larrY. Just who wants to destroy downtown Shinjuku?

No military value at all. If that is the number one target for Japan's enemies then it shows they are too stupid to beat Japan. Get a clue.

The time has come to relinquish the ambition to destroy the DPRK.

Nobody anywhere is looking to destroy the DPRK. People would support it changing so the people have freedom of movement and the other freedoms we all take for granted. And a change to a sensible government not hell bent on nuclear destruction of anyone that opposes NK. But nobody is wanting the destruction of the people of NK. Anti West fallacy.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Imagine being born into a life of relative affluence and inheriting leadership of a country, and your only goal is to be a pest.

Or...

Kim has no control or authority and his family is just a puppet and hostage of the old men in charge of the Military.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Peter14,I guess the US firebombing Tokyo had no military value,it was more like a message for Japan to surrender,the main point of war is too inflict fear on the public,too force their leadership to surrender,I pretty sure Ryongsung Residence where all the elite in NK live are first strike target,since the US do not have a first strike policy,they may wait on whether Tokyo is important than DC in their response, Pyongyang is 800miles from Tokyo,a ballistic missile goes an average 100 miles a minute Google Pyongyang to Tokyo Distance

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

NK apparently launched 3 more missiles in response to SK and US extending their drills over the weekend (which was a response to the missiles NK launched in this article).

NK added the threat to the effect of... ooh you'll see how sorry you're going to be for extending those drills.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

the main point of war is too inflict fear on the public,too force their leadership to surrender,

What a totally incorrect post from a civilian with no knowledge of modern military matters.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Japanese authorities urge sheltering to Japanese citizen but such shelters are nowhere in Japan, LDP government has no plans that make and increase shelters, they only think expansion of armament.

This missile were antipathy against US-South Korea military drill but LDP government with Japanese major media treated it as if attacking against Japan with keeping their feet in line, they used missile that had gone to space for propagandizing expansion of armament. 

Kishida can say critical comment to North Korea but he cannot say same words to Unification Church who actually victimized Japanese citizen.

LDP government couldn't even grasp when missile launched and where missile had gone but they want unrealistic delusion "enemy base attacking ability" that destroy missile base before launching despite violation of international law and constitution.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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