North Korea's test of a missile over Japan's northern island of Hokkaido (map above) in the last 24 hours is not the first North Korean missile test over Japanese territory. The main difference is that North Korea is now suspected (over the last few months) of being capable of building miniaturised nuclear warheads that would fit onto missiles.
Previous missile tests over Japanese territory, include:
- In December 2012 North Korea fired a missile over Okinawa.
- In August 1998: North Korea fired a suspected missile over Japan and into the Pacific Ocean.
North Korea called the payload a satellite.
- There would be other proven or suspected tests over Japan?
It is not known if North Korea gave Japanese authorities prior warning of this latest (August 2017) test?
Pete