Japan orders citizens to take cover after North Korea fires rocket

Emergency order rescinded shortly after projectile exploded over the ocean, with South Korea saying fragments were discovered in the water

i24NEWS
i24NEWS
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Image provided by the North Korean government showing what it says was a test fire of tactical ballistic missile at an undisclosed site of North Korea
Image provided by the North Korean government showing what it says was a test fire of tactical ballistic missile at an undisclosed site of North KoreaKorean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP

Japan told its citizens to take cover after North Korea fired a projectile from its western coast on Monday, before rescinding the emergency order.

The launch originated in the northwestern part of North Korea, according to the South Korean military.

Shortly after it was issued, Japan's prime minister's office lifted the order, which affected residents of the southern island of Okinawa.

South Korea said that fragments from a rocket were found in the sea. According to footage, the missile traveled south before exploding.

Pyongyang notified Japan's coast guard it would fire "a satellite rocket" between May 27 and June 4. This prompted Japan, the US, and South Korea to call on North Korea to refrain from the launch, which officials said would further the North's ballistic missile program.

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