N. Korea mulls firing of 4 missiles to fly over Japan to around Guam

August 10, 2017

SEOUL- North Korea is considering a plan to simultaneously fire four intermediate-range ballistic missiles to areas around Guam through the sky above western Japan, state-run Korean Central News Agency reported on Thursday, quoting a senior military commander.

The Hwasong-12 missiles would fly over Shimane, Hiroshima and Kochi prefectures of Japan, before falling into waters 30-40 kilometers off the US Pacific island, Gen. Kim Rak Gyom, commander of the Korean People's Army's Strategic Force, said on Wednesday, according to the report.

The missiles are expected to travel 3,356.7 kilometers in 1,065 seconds, or 17 minutes and 45 seconds, the report said.

The operation plan is reported to be finalized by mid-August and submitted to North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong Un. The missiles will then be readied for launch upon his order.

The disclosure of the specific plan is apparently intended to be a threat to the United States, Japan and South Korea.

In August 1998, the second stage of a Taepodong-1 long-range ballistic missile fired by North Korea passed over Japan and fell into waters off the Sanriku northeastern Japan coast along the Pacific Ocean. In April 2009, the second and third stages of another North Korean long-range ballistic missile fell into the Pacific after flying over Japan's Tohoku northeastern region.

In December 2012 and February 2016, North Korean missiles flew over the southern Japan prefecture of Okinawa.

In the KCNA report, the North Korean general also said the military is considering allowing North Korean people to watch the historic enveloping fire around Guam. Jiji Press