North Korea Launches Ballistic Missile, Prompting Japan to Issue Evacuation Order

North Korea launched a ballistic missile on Thursday, prompting Japan to issue an evacuation order for a northern island. The missile was launched from near the North Korean capital Pyongyang and flew toward the waters off the North’s east coast.

According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missile was fired at around 7:23 a.m. local time and had a medium or longer range. Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said the missile may have been a type of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the longest range of North Korea’s ballistic missiles, but that Japanese authorities were continuing to analyze details.

The launch of the missile has raised concerns among North Korea’s neighbors, as it is the latest in a series of provocative weapons tests by the country. The Japanese Coast Guard later said it believed there was no longer a possibility of the missile landing on the island, and the evacuation order was retracted.

The international community is continuing to monitor the situation and is urging North Korea to cease its weapons tests. The United Nations Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the launch.