North Korea Holds Missile Launch Test Again, Japan Cabinet Protests Strongly: Violates UN Security Council Resolutions

North Korea missile test. (Source: KCNA)

JAKARTA - North Korea conducted another test launch of a ballistic missile on Sunday, the country's seventh missile launch this month, the Japanese government said.

The missile moved east about 800 kilometers, reaching a maximum altitude of about 2,000 km, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said, citing Kyodo News Jan. 30.

"It appears to have occurred outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone in the Sea of Japan," Matsuno added at a press conference.

A Japanese government official said there were no immediate reports of damage to ships and planes in the area.

"Launching a ballistic missile violates UN Security Council resolutions, whose strong protest was expressed to the DPRK. We are still working on the details, but, if we consider the normal ballistic trajectory, the missile has a range of about 800 km, with a maximum altitude of about 2,000 km," Matusno criticized, citing TASS.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will hold a National Security Council meeting Sunday evening in response to the latest launch, according to government sources.

PM Kishida has instructed the government to provide information to the public quickly and accurately, check the safety of ships and aircraft, and respond to any unforeseen developments.

Separately, the South Korean military also confirmed the launch of what it described as a suspected ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan. The missile was fired at about 7:52 a.m. from Jagang Utara Province, the Southern military said.