Japan's top government spokesman says the country has lodged a protest with North Korea over its launch of missiles on Wednesday.
North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles from its southwestern region toward the northeast. One missile is presumed to have fallen into the Sea of Japan after flying about 500 kilometers.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga pointed out that the launches violate UN Security Council resolutions and despite repeated protests from Japan, according to (NHK World).
He said the government is analyzing the details of the missile launches. He declined comment on North Korea's intentions.
Suga also said Japan is carefully monitoring the investigation North Korea has begun into the fate of Japanese abducted by the North.
The probe includes those officially recognized by Japan's government as abductees and others who may be abductees, as well as Japanese who went to the country decades ago and married North Koreans.