[Kal-EL]

North Korea Rocket Flew Over Japan, Government Says (Update1)


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By Sachiko Sakamaki and Heejin Koo
April 5 (Bloomberg) -- North Korea launched a rocket today which overflew Japan on a trajectory into the Pacific Ocean, according to a statement from the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office. South Korea’s government also confirmed the launch.
Prime Minister Taro Aso convened a working group on the incident, tasking it with securing the safety of Japanese territory, strengthening the nation’s information-gathering capabilities and assuring prompt disclosure of information to the public, the government announced.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura will brief the press on Japan’s further responses to the rocket launch at around noon local time, the government said. South Korea’s Presidential Office said it will brief the press at noon in Seoul.
The first stage of the missile separated and fell into the Sea of Japan, while a second stage landed in the Pacific, according to the Japanese government, which said it didn’t attempt to intercept the rocket.
The launch, which North Korea has said would be to orbit a communications satellite, represents the latest escalation in that country’s long-running dispute with the international community over its nuclear and guided-missile programs.
North Korea turned on the tracking radar at the Musdan-ri site on its east coast this morning, Yonhap News in Seoul said earlier. A rocket on the site’s main pad was uncovered today, indicating a launch might be imminent, the report added.

Why do I get the feeling, everyone is taking this launch lightly?