Korean People's Army (KPA) personnel launch missiles during a target strike exercise at an undisclosed location in North Korea in an undated photo released by the Korean Central News Agency on Aug. 26. | AFP Photo/KCNA via KNS North Korean missile test over Japan seen as 'big-time escalation'

The Pentagon confirmed Monday evening that North Korea test-fired a missile that traveled over the territory of Japan — the latest in a string of provocative moves as the reclusive regime seeks to advance its nuclear weapons program.

"We can confirm that the missile launched by North Korea flew over Japan," the Pentagon said in a brief statement following news reports from the region that residents in northern Japan were awakened in the middle of the night to warnings before the missile splashed into the sea.


The test comes after a heated exchange of threats earlier this month between North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump after the United Nations approved a series of new punitive measures, including additional economic sanctions targeting Pyongyang.

Trump said that North Korea would suffer "fire and fury" if it continued to threaten U.S. interests — a statement that many perceived to be signaling a willingness to use nuclear weapons. In turn, North Korea threatened to fire a salvo of missiles into the waters off Guam, a U.S. territory that houses military facilities in the region.

In recent days, however, talk of diplomacy has lowered the temperature.

Sen. Lindsey Graham a South Carolina Republican on the Armed Services Committee, called the new test "a big-time escalation of conflict." He also said that "clearly North Korean sanctions are not working the way we had hoped."

He called on the Trump administration to "forcefully respond."

The Pentagon did not immediately reveal additional details about the latest missile test and says it is still analyzing the launch. But its statement added that "North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) determined the missile launch from North Korea did not pose a threat to North America.

"We are working closely with Pacific Command, Strategic Command and NORAD and will provide an update as soon as possible."

The test drew immediate condemnation from experts.

“North Korea once again proved to the international community that it will not stop testing advanced ballistic missiles — no matter the perceived pressure or tough talk from the Trump administration," said Harry Kazianis, director of defense studies at the Center for the National Interest, a nonpartisan foreign policy think tank establish by former President Richard Nixon.

He called the move a "reckless provocation."

"The danger of such a test is obvious," he added. "If a North Korean missile were to accidentally land in Japan and kill scores of innocent civilians, Tokyo and its treaty ally, the United States, would be hard-pressed not to respond — most likely militarily. In such an event, North Korea would likely respond in kind with force, setting off a chain of events that could put all of Northeast Asia on the path to war."

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In a series of tweets, Jeffrey Lewis, director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies Monterey, said that "early reports indicate that North Korea flew a Hwasong-12 [intermediate-range ballistic missile] over Japan.

"Why is anyone surprised? In June, North Korea warned 'even if what we launch flies over Japan, Japan cannot say anything, even if it has hundreds of mouths.'"

There was no immediate comment from the White House.

