Japan's Ministry of Defense announced that North Korea launched at least one ballistic missile at around 6:00 a.m. today, and it is estimated to have fallen outside the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

According to NHK, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi stated that the launched missile reached a maximum altitude of about 90 km and flew approximately 690 km before falling outside Japan's EEZ.

He added that no damage to aircraft or vessels has been confirmed so far.

Defense Minister Koizumi emphasized, "North Korea's series of actions, including the repeated ballistic missile launches, threaten the peace and safety of our country and the international community, and constitute a critical issue concerning the safety of our citizens."

He also stated that a stern protest and strong condemnation were lodged against North Korea through diplomatic channels in Beijing, China.

Immediately following the ballistic missile launch, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed officials to focus on gathering and analyzing information, providing prompt updates, and ensuring the safety of aircraft and vessels.

The Japanese government reportedly convened an emergency response team composed of officials from relevant ministries at the Prime Minister's Office Crisis Management Center to gather and verify information.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) also announced that North Korea fired one ballistic missile from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea at around 6:00 a.m. today, estimating the missile's flight distance to be over 700 km while analyzing its precise specifications.