Japan sees no immediate threat from N. Korea

Japan sees no immediate threat from N. Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. (AP Photo/Minh Hoang)

SEOUL, South Korea — Following North Korea’s test firing, Japan’s Defense Ministry says North Korean missiles have not reached anywhere near the country’s coast and that Japan is not facing any security threat.

The ministry says it has not detected signs that any of the North Korean short-range missiles fired Saturday have reached in or around Japan’s territory or its 200-nautical-mile (320-kilometer) exclusive economic zone.

It says at this point Japan does not face a situation that would pose any immediate risk to its national security.

Japan is seen as avoiding any harsh response as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe seeks to secure a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff says that North Korea has launched “several” short-range missiles off its eastern coast.

The military said in a statement Saturday that the missiles flew up to 200 kilometers (125 miles) before they landed in the water. /jpv

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