Nuclear-armed On October 4, North Korea launched a ballistic missile over Japan for the first time in five years, leading inhabitants to seek shelter and temporarily suspending rail operations in northern Japan.

As the missile seemed to fly over and past Japanese territory before crashing into the Pacific Ocean, the Japanese authorities warned civilians to seek cover.

It was the first North Korean missile to follow such a trajectory since 2017. Tokyo said its 4,600 km (2,850 miles) range could have been the longest for a North Korean test flight, which is often “lofted” higher into space to avoid flying over neighboring nations.

The latest launch was Pyongyang’s fifth in ten days, as the US, South Korea, and Japan flexed their military muscles. Last week, the three countries held trilateral anti-submarine exercises, including a US aircraft carrier visit to South Korea for the first time since 2017.

Recent tests have prompted relatively subdued responses from Washington, preoccupied with the Ukraine crisis and other domestic and international concerns. Still, the US military has increased its presence in the region.

Tokyo stated that no action was taken to shoot down the missile. Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada stated that Japan would not rule out any alternatives, including retaliatory capabilities, as it seeks to improve its defenses in the wake of North Korean missile launches. South Korea also said it would strengthen its military and expand allied cooperation.