North Korea launches ballistic missile into Japanese waters

[Lyneham Lad]

In the Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/03/north-korea-launches-ballistic-missile-says-south):-
North Korea has launched a ballistic missile that landed in or near Japanese-controlled waters for the first time, the latest in a series of launches by the isolated country in defiance of United Nations security council resolutions.

The main body of the missile landed in Japan’s economic exclusion zone, a Japanese defence official said, escalating regional tensions that were already high after a series of missile launches this year and the decision by the United States to place a sophisticated anti-missile system in South Korea.

The Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, described the launch as a grave threat to Japan and said Tokyo strongly protested. Japan also said its self-defence force would remain on alert in case of further launches.

As if the region was not already 'interesting' enough...

[Lonewolf_50]

Ok, so they hit the ocean.
What were they aiming at?

[Dan Gerous]

Close, same planet.

[oldpax]

Send a dummy "cruise missile"into a park lake in Pyongyang and say "sorry only testing"!!

[Stanwell]

And ...
In other news, a diplomatic breakthrough has seen Yung Fat Wun agree to
make his hairdresser available to the US President-in-Waiting.

[Lyneham Lad]

Seems someone north of the border is not amused by the latest SKorea/USA exercises...

North Korea submarine fires ballistic missile (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-37171608)

North Korea has fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its east coast, say the US and South Korea.
The KN-11 missile was launched from waters near Sinpo and flew about 500km (300 miles) before falling into the Sea of Japan, a US official said.
Japan's PM said it fell inside Japan's Air Defence Identification Zone, calling it a "reckless act".
It comes as South Korea and the US begin annual military drills, which routinely anger Pyongyang.

[ShotOne]

I'm not disputing that this test was reckless, verging on bonkers but as far as being "inside Japan's ADIZ", is this really an issue? The missile landed in international waters. By our own rules, if NK had aircraft capable of doing so they would be fully entitled to exercise rights of navigation there, just as US and other aircraft have made a point of doing inside China's ADIZ. We can't have it both ways.

[Stanwell]

So the brat is throwing its toys out of the pram again?
We must all rally round and take up a collection to soothe it.
Please give generously.

[Herod]

Yung Fat Wun

Not seen that one before; love it.:D

[andytug]

I'm not disputing that this test was reckless, verging on bonkers but as far as being "inside Japan's ADIZ", is this really an issue? The missile landed in international waters. By our own rules, if NK had aircraft capable of doing so they would be fully entitled to exercise rights of navigation there, just as US and other aircraft have made a point of doing inside China's ADIZ. We can't have it both ways.

Not sure "rights of navigation" extends to potentially nuclear capable ballistic missiles........

If someone sent a missile that close to the US, Russia or China I doubt they'd be impressed much, "international" waters or not.

[ShotOne]

Impressed or not, a US Navy EP3 collided with a Chinese fighter just 70 miles off their coast. At the risk of labouring the point, I'm not defending this launch but if the issue is the ADIZ violation, we surely need to choose. Is it reasonable to insist Japan's ADIZ be sacrosanct, then fly a (nuclear capable) B52 through China's?