(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
Today at around 6:52 a.m., North Korea launched at least one ballistic missile from the west coast of North Korea in the northeast direction. We are currently still analyzing the details, but we estimate that the launched ballistic missile flew over 650 kilometers at a maximum altitude of approximately 100 kilometers and fell into the Sea of Japan east of the Korean Peninsula, outside the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Japan. The government has provided information to the aircraft and ships navigating in that vicinity, but information such as damage reports, etc. has not been confirmed at the present time. North Korea’s series of actions, including the repeated launches of ballistic missiles, etc. to date, pose a threat to the peace and security of Japan, the region and the international community; furthermore, such ballistic missile launches violate the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions and are grave incidents concerning the safety of the people of Japan. Japan has lodged its serious protest and strongly condemned North Korea. In order to fully protect the lives and property of the people of Japan, the government will continue to make all efforts to conduct information gathering and analysis and to implement vigilance and surveillance activities in close cooperation with the United States, the ROK, and other countries, and in the case that in the future we obtain information which should be additionally released, we will announce it promptly.