<Anchor>
The news of
North Korea's launch caused Japan to panic at one point. In the south of Okinawa, an emergency evacuation order was issued, and the Japanese government strongly condemned North Korea, calling it a threat to the peace of the international community.

Japan's reaction will be brought to you by correspondent Park Sang-jin.

<Reporter>
At half past six
o'clock in the morning, a nationwide instantaneous warning system called "J Alert" was issued in the Okinawa area, and

[a missile appears to have been launched from North Korea].

Residents were sent texts asking them to evacuate inside the building or in the basement.

The monorail that runs through downtown Okinawa has also come to a standstill.

Okinawa Prefecture has even set up a Crisis Management Headquarters.

[Okinawa residents: I thought it was a typhoon warning, but it was a missile warning, I didn't know what to do.]

J Alert is issued when there is a possibility that a North Korean missile will fall or pass through Japan's territory or territorial waters.

About 6 minutes later, at 30:7 a.m., the Japan Sea Security Agency said the projectile appeared to have already fallen, and the evacuation order was lifted.

Prime Minister Kishida convened the National Security Council at 4:8 a.m. at the Prime Minister's Residence.

After the meeting, Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno said, "At about 15:6 a.m., an object that appeared to be a ballistic missile disappeared over the West Sea and did not reach outer space."

He explained that the damage report information has not been confirmed.

He condemned North Korea's continued missile launches as a threat to the peace and security of Japan and the international community.

[Matsuno/Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary: The ballistic missile launch is a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. Japan has sternly protested and strongly condemned North Korea.]

The Ministry of Defense said that the "sabotage order" that could intercept satellites if they fell on Japan had not been executed, but that it would remain in place during the period of North Korea's satellite launch.

(Video interview: Han Cheol-min, Moon Hyun-jin)

▶ Suddenly, "prepare to evacuate"... The evacuation text sent 35 minutes after the "disaster text" that caused the morning mayhem...there was no "why or where"
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