Seoul military chiefs launched a Hyunmu-2 ballistic missile off their volatile neighbour’s coast almost instantly following North Korea’s provocative launch towards Japan.
South Korean defence minister Lee Myung-jae revealed that South Korea launched its missile immediately after Pyongyang fired a ballistic missile which sparked terror in Japan.
The defence minister said his militaries response showed their readiness should the North’s provocations continue to escalate.
Seoul’s ballistic missile launch was in response to North Korea firing a missile eastwards over the Hokkaido region before landing in the Pacific Ocean.
The missile is estimated to have travelled 2300 miles (3,700 km) from its launch site in Pyongyang, meaning it was capable of striking the US territory of Guam.
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Warning announcements were broadcast over loudspeakers in the town of Kamaishi, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said: “These repeated provocations on the part of North Korea are impermissible and we protest in the strongest words.
“We will take an appropriate response in contact with the US and South Korea.”
He added: “There is currently no evidence that missile fragments fell on Japanese territory.”
Japan said they made no attempt to shoot down the projectile but the government did issue a shelter warning as it travelled overhead.
Japanese citizens have also been given advice on what to do in case of a strike.
The South Korean military had previously reported that Kim Jong-un was preparing to launch another missile with activity reported at a launch pad.
The US military revealed they had detected the launch of an intermediate range ballistic missile.
Korean defence researcher Yang Uk said: ”This rocket has meaning in that North Korea is pushing towards technological completion of its missiles and that North Korea may be feeling some pressure that they need to show the international community something.”
The launch is the latest step in North Korea’s quest for a full nuclear arsenal as they seek an ICBM and nuclear weapon capable of reaching the American mainland.