North Korea launches intercontinental ballistic missile

WORLD, Nov. 18 (YPA) – North Korea on Friday launched an intercontinental ballistic missile in response to increased military activity by the United States and its allies, which Pyongyang considered as “provocations”  in the region.

The South Korean military and Japanese coast guard said North Korea appeared to have fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, but the launch failed, according to Seoul and Tokyo.

According to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the missile landed west of Hokkaido inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. No damage to ships or aircraft had been confirmed as of Friday afternoon.

“We strongly protested to North Korea. (Pyongyang) is repeating provocative actions at an unprecedented pace. We strongly reiterate that this is totally unacceptable,” Kishida said.

“Japan, the United States and South Korea must coordinate closely to work towards the complete denuclearization of North Korea,” he said.

Pyongyang said earlier in Thursday that “its military response to the joint military exercises between the United States and its allies will become more angry,” accusing them of “escalating the security crisis in the region.”

E.M