This is almost a daily occurrence.<p>The news this time is that government used the J-Alert system to mass broadcast to everyone in Hokkaido to announce that, instead of coming down in the sea of Japan, it might come down on the land. NHK is reporting that it might be a new type ICBM which I guess might be the reason for the general alert this time.
J-Alert is often disliked by the Japanese people because it has repeated false alarms and its warning sound is quite shocking. North Korea has fired missiles that passed over Japan’s airspace several times, but while some people get furious when they hear the news, they go back to their normal lives as if nothing happened after a few hours. Besides, where are we supposed to evacuate when they tell us to? Under the desk? In the river? On a hill? Some of the Tokyo Metro stations in the city center function as shelters because they are deep underground, but most people can’t do anything about it.
My memory is vague but I seem to recall hearing of NK missiles heading in Japan's direction a number of times in recent years. Is my memory correct? Does NK just get free reign to fire missiles towards other countries?
US government warning as well: <a href="https://twitter.com/ACSTokyo/status/1646289607699431426" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/ACSTokyo/status/1646289607699431426</a><p>Edit:<p>Looks like it just flew overhead and landed in the sea.
BNO now reporting it has hit the ocean: <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/BNODesk/status/1646294091934621711" rel="nofollow">https://mobile.twitter.com/BNODesk/status/164629409193462171...</a>
Out of curiosity (this is totally not my field)- aren't anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems a thing, especially for a technologically advanced country like Japan? If Ukraine can shoot down half or more of the missiles that Russia lobs at them, why can't Japan use a similar system like the Patriot or Iron Dome?<p>Related question- what's the status of shooting down missiles in flight with lasers? Is that still a generation or two away?
I wonder what the feeling of the people in e.g. China or Russia is right now regarding peace. Is it hopelessness? Nationalism? Fatalism?<p>Foolish thinking, but I was hoping as a species we were past petty wars.
The Japanese government has confirmed what appears to be a ballistic missile launched by North Korea has not fallen in the northern prefecture of Hokkaido or surrounding areas.