With the launch of its latest ballistic missiles this year, North Korea has dragged Japan into its ongoing tussle with South Korea and the United States over the deployment of a US advanced anti-missile shield in the South against the North.

One of two missiles fired on Wednesday landed in waters within Japan’s exclusive economic zone, drawing international condemnation and prompting the United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency meeting yesterday.

Analysts see the latest missile test as a show of force against US plans to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (Thaad) battery on South Korean soil.

… Mr Shawn Ho, an associate research fellow with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said North Korea made a “calculated strategic move”.

“Japan will now have to respond and this will further bolster the Japan-US alliance which will further irritate China,” he said.