Japan Issues Emergency Alert After Suspected North Korean Missile Launch
On June 26, Japan issued an emergency alert following a suspected ballistic missile launch by North Korea. The alert was announced by the Japan Prime Minister’s Office on social media platform X. However, the alert was lifted minutes later as the missile was not expected to reach Japan.
The Prime Minister’s Office instructed officials to gather and analyze information, provide speedy and adequate information to the public, ensure the safety of aircraft and vessels, and take all possible measures for contingencies.
This incident has raised concerns for the United States, Japan, and South Korea, who have been dealing with repeated missile strikes by North Korea. Earlier this month, the three countries issued a joint statement strongly opposing any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific waters and condemning North Korea’s recent missile launches.
The US, Japan, and South Korea have agreed to continue close coordination on North Korea and other regional and global stability challenges. They plan to set up a new coordinating body to align their policies further. The US and Japan have also emphasized the importance of their strategic global cooperation.
Earlier this year, the US, Japan, and South Korea reiterated their commitment to trilateral maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region. The United States-Japan-Republic of Korea Indo-Pacific Dialogue held on January 5 in Washington, DC, marked a new chapter in their partnership and an important step towards strengthening global policy alignment.
