Japan believes N.Korean missile ICBM-class

Japan believes N.Korean missile ICBM-class

NHK, July 29, 2017

Japan's Defense Ministry says the missile launched by North Korea on Friday is believed to have been an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Ministry officials say the North fired the ICBM from Mupyong-ri in the inland province of Jagang at around 11:42 PM Friday Japan time.

They say it flew northeast for about 1,000 kilometers and came down in Japan's exclusive economic zone some 150 kilometers northwest of Okushiri Island in the northern prefecture of Hokkaido.

A previous North Korean ICBM fell in Japan's economic zone on July 4th. It was the 6th time a missile has come down in the zone.

Japanese authorities have so far received no reports of damage to ships or aircraft.

Defense officials estimate the missile flew for around 45 minutes, about 5 minutes longer than an ICBM launched by the North on July 4th. It reached an altitude of more than 3,500 kilometers, or about 1,000 kilometers higher than the previous launch. Both duration and height exceeded other missile launches by the North.

Ministry officials believe the missile has a maximum range of more than 5,500 kilometers. They believe it was fired on what's known as a "lofted trajectory" -- possibly to avoid hitting land. The same method was used in the July 4th ICBM launch.

Japanese defense officials are studying the type and flight path of the missile. They believe the North's missile capabilities have advanced.