North Korea’s missile launch aimed at stunning Japan: KCNA

August 30, 2017

SEOUL- North Korea successfully test-fired a Hwasong-12 intermediate ballistic missile on Tuesday in an operation partly aimed at stunning Japan, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Wednesday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un timed the launch to coincide with the 107th anniversary of the effectuation of the treaty under which Japan annexed Korea, according to the state-run KCNA.

He approved the missile launch from the Pyongyang metropolitan area Tuesday under a bold operation plan he had mapped out to stun the Japanese, the KCNA also said.

The launch is a prelude to containing the US Pacific territory of Guam, Kim was quoted as saying.

The KCNA said the missile took a scheduled trajectory, flew over Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido and landed in targeted waters in the Pacific Ocean.

The United States responded to North Korea's warning with military exercises, Kim was quoted as saying. He also said his country needs to carry out many ballistic missile tests targeting waters in the Pacific, according to the KCNA.

Kim also said he will continue to watch US responses before deciding whether to take further action.

Earlier this month, the KCNA said North Korea's military is considering a plan to fire four Hwasong-12 missiles simultaneously into waters near Guam. Jiji Press