Japan urges people to take cover after North Korea fires missile

The Japanese government has urged people to take cover.

Japan urges people to take cover after North Korea fires missile
Japanese Self-Defense Force's Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) interceptor missile launcher is deployed at a base in Akita city, northern Japan on March 31, 2009. Japan deployed PAC-3 units in northern Japan to shoot down any incoming North Korean rocket, with tensions high ahead of a planned launch that the US and allies say will be an illegal missile test. AFP PHOTO / JIJI PRESS (Photo by JIJI PRESS / AFP) / Japan OUT (Photo by STR/JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images)
The Japanese government has issued an emergency warning (PIcture: AP)

North Korea appears to have fired a missile at Japan.

The Japanese government issued an emergency warning on Tuesday for residents in the south to take cover from the possible threat of a North Korean missile.

Japan said over its J-Alert broadcasting system that North Korea appeared to have fired a missile, sending out the warning to residents in the southern prefecture of Okinawa.

North Korea had earlier in the day notified Japan that it plans to launch a satellite, in what Tokyo and Seoul said could be a third attempt to put a spy satellite into orbit in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.