North Korea missile entered Japan's air defence zone: Abe

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North Korea has fired a submarine-launched missile towards Japan, showing the isolated country has improved its technological capability.
An underwater test-firing of a strategic submarine ballistic missile is seen in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang on April 24. PHOTO: REUTERS

TOKYO (AFP) - A North Korean submarine-launched ballistic missile has entered Japan's air defence identification zone for the first time, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reportedly said Wednesday (Aug 24).

"This is the first time a missile from North Korea was launched from a submarine into our country's air defence identification zone," Mr Abe told reporters, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Mr Abe condemned the launch by North Korea as a "reckless act", Jiji Press reported. "It is a grave threat to Japan's security environment," he told reporters, according to the news agency. "It is an unforgivable, reckless act."

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