North Korea launches another missile, alert in Japan

North Korea launched an unidentified ballistic missile "eastward" this morning.

Seoul and Tokyo made it known.

    Japan said the missile "probably" flew over the country, warning residents to move to shelters.

"North Korea appears to have launched a missile.

    Please evacuate into buildings or underground, "the Japanese government said in an alert issued at 7:29 local time (00:29 in Italy). National broadcaster NHK said the alarm was in effect for two northern regions of the country. At around 8 am local time (1 am in Italy) the office of the Japanese prime minister then tweeted that "a bullet that appears to be a North Korean ballistic missile probably flew over Japan." In a statement , the Japanese coast guard said the missile appears to have already fallen overboard and warned ships not to approach any falling objects.

    This year, nuclear-armed North Korea carried out a record blitz of weapons testing, including firing short-range ballistic missiles four times last week.

Pyongyang's intense weapons testing period comes as Seoul, Tokyo and Washington step up joint military exercises to counter growing threats from the North.