North Korea fires missile towards Japan two days after similar threat

North Korea has pulled an extraordinary move, as the United Nations meets to discuss the looming threat.

North Korea has ignored global condemnation over its nuclear weapons program and fired its second missile towards Japan in the last 48 hours.

The Prime Minister's office of Japan reported “an unspecified ballistic missile towards the East Sea”, also known as the Sea of Japan, at about 8.30am (AEST) this morning.

It came as the UN Security Council met in New York to the rogue state’s perceived regional threat.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ignored global disapproval, launching more missiles into the sea near Japan. Picture: KCNA

PM Fumio Kishida’s office issued official instructions to the public in response to the missile launch with the alerted missile launch.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff also reported the launch, which came just 48 hours after another intermediate-range ballistic missile flew over Japan.

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was in talks with US President Joe Biden just hours before North Korea carried out another missile launch. Picture: JIJI Press

Less than 24 hours earlier, Mr Kishida confirmed he was in talks with US President Joe Biden regarding a response to North Korea’s aggression.

“I held a telephone conversation with President Biden of the United States and shared the recognition that North Korea’s missile launch is a clear and serious challenge to the peace and stability of the entire international community,” he said.

米国バイデン大統領と電話会談を行い、北朝鮮のミサイル発射は国際社会全体の平和と安定に対する明白かつ重大な挑戦であるとの認識を共有しました。北朝鮮の完全な非核化に向け、安保理におけるものを含め、さらなる対応について両国で緊密に連携していくことを確認しました。 https://t.co/nrLoN7mG7M

— 岸田文雄 (@kishida230) October 4, 2022

“It was confirmed that the two countries will closely co-ordinate on further measures, including those at the Security Council, towards the complete denuclearisation of North Korea.”

On Wednesday, South Korea and US militaries responded to the initial launch, firing their own volley of missiles into the sea.

South Korea’s military also announced on Wednesday that the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan would return to the area, having already conducted joint drills with Seoul’s navy last month.

However, the allies bungled a drill on Tuesday when a missile malfunctioned and crashed into the ground.

The live-fire drill between the US and South Korea was supposed to be show of strength in the wake of the recent North Korean missile launch, but ultimately ended in humiliation.

While the wayward missile did not detonate, locals reportedly believed it was an attack by the North.

US President Joe Biden has strongly condemned North Korea’s latest action. Picture: Olivier Douliery/AFP

North Korea’s launches are part of a record year of sanctions-busting weapons tests by the isolated regime, which recently revised its nuclear laws, with leader Kim Jong-un declaring his country an “irreversible” nuclear power.

Mr Biden and Mr Kishida decried the launch over Japan “in the strongest terms” while South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol called it a “provocation”.

North Korean state news agency KCNA condemned the United States and allies for calling the UN Security Council meeting.

– with AFP

Originally published as North Korea fires missile towards Japan two days after similar threat