North Korea Sends Intermediate-range Missile over Japan
2022-10-05
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1North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile Tuesday that flew farther than any of the country's earlier attempts.
2It was the first time since 2017 that a North Korean missile flew over Japan.
3The Japanese government warned people to move to a place of safety.
4Officials in Tokyo and Seoul said the missile flew between 4,500 to 4,600 kilometers.
5It travelled as high as 1,000 kilometers above Earth.
6Missiles are flown high to avoid entering airspace of neighboring countries.
7South Korea's military said it appeared to have been an intermediate-range ballistic missile launched from North Korea's Jagang Province.
8North Korea has launched several recent tests from there.
9Japan warned its citizens to go into shelters.
10It also stopped some train services while the missile passed over its north toward the Pacific Ocean
11American President Joe Biden spoke to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the phone after the missile test Tuesday.
12Biden assured him that the United States has an "ironclad commitment" to Japan's defense.
13The two leaders jointly condemned the missile test, the Biden administration said in a statement.
14It also said the U.S. would work closely with South Korea and the international community to decide how to deal with the issue.
15The United States, South Korea and Japan are currently holding joint military exercises.
16American and South Korean warplanes test-bombed a target in the Yellow Sea following North Korea's missile flight.
17American Vice President Kamala Harris visited the area last week and spoke at the border between the Koreas.
18She said North Korea was weakening the area's security.
19North Korea accuses the United States and its allies of threatening it with exercises and defense buildups.
20Japan said it took no steps to shoot the missile down.
21But Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said it would consider all measures.
22South Korea also said it would increase its military and cooperation with allies.
23U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea "strongly condemned" North Korea's firing of the missile over Japan.
24The three countries also condemned North Korea's violation of UN Security Council resolutions and the threat to peace.
25Blinken said that it is important for the three countries to cooperate in holding North Korea "accountable for its unacceptable behavior."
26Ankit Panda is an expert on nuclear policy with the U.S.-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
27He said that flying a missile such a long distance permits North Korea's scientists to test it under realistic conditions.
28It puts the missile under the stress of re-entering the atmosphere.
29South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol called the test "reckless" and said it would bring a decisive response from his country, its allies and the international community.
30Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called North Korea's action "barbaric."
31Daniel Kritenbrink, the top American diplomat for East Asia, said the launch over Japan was "not a productive path forward" but Washington is still open to talks.
32I'm Jill Robbins.
1North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile Tuesday that flew farther than any of the country's earlier attempts. It was the first time since 2017 that a North Korean missile flew over Japan. The Japanese government warned people to move to a place of safety. 2Officials in Tokyo and Seoul said the missile flew between 4,500 to 4,600 kilometers. It travelled as high as 1,000 kilometers above Earth. Missiles are flown high to avoid entering airspace of neighboring countries. 3South Korea's military said it appeared to have been an intermediate-range ballistic missile launched from North Korea's Jagang Province. North Korea has launched several recent tests from there. 4Japan warned its citizens to go into shelters. It also stopped some train services while the missile passed over its north toward the Pacific Ocean 5'Ironclad' committment 6American President Joe Biden spoke to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the phone after the missile test Tuesday. Biden assured him that the United States has an "ironclad commitment" to Japan's defense. 7The two leaders jointly condemned the missile test, the Biden administration said in a statement. It also said the U.S. would work closely with South Korea and the international community to decide how to deal with the issue. 8The United States, South Korea and Japan are currently holding joint military exercises. American and South Korean warplanes test-bombed a target in the Yellow Sea following North Korea's missile flight. 9American Vice President Kamala Harris visited the area last week and spoke at the border between the Koreas. She said North Korea was weakening the area's security. 10North Korea accuses the United States and its allies of threatening it with exercises and defense buildups. 11Japan said it took no steps to shoot the missile down. But Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said it would consider all measures. 12South Korea also said it would increase its military and cooperation with allies. 13U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea "strongly condemned" North Korea's firing of the missile over Japan. The three countries also condemned North Korea's violation of UN Security Council resolutions and the threat to peace. 14Blinken said that it is important for the three countries to cooperate in holding North Korea "accountable for its unacceptable behavior." 15'Real-world' test 16Ankit Panda is an expert on nuclear policy with the U.S.-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He said that flying a missile such a long distance permits North Korea's scientists to test it under realistic conditions. It puts the missile under the stress of re-entering the atmosphere. 17South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol called the test "reckless" and said it would bring a decisive response from his country, its allies and the international community. 18Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called North Korea's action "barbaric." 19Daniel Kritenbrink, the top American diplomat for East Asia, said the launch over Japan was "not a productive path forward" but Washington is still open to talks. 20I'm Jill Robbins. 21Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English. 22_______________________________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24ballistic missile - n. a missile with a high, arching path, which is powered and guided at first, but falls under gravity on to its target. 25range - n. the distance between a target and a weapon 26stress - n. strong physical pressure applied to an object 27ironclad - adj. unbreakable 28commitment - n. a promise to do something 29reckless - adj. not concerned about the consequences of some action; without caution; careless 30barbaric - adj. without civilizing influences; uncivilized; primitive 31_______________________________________________________________________ 32What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 33Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them.