In response to the threat, residents of Japan's northernmost region, Hokkaido, were told to take shelter in underground bunkers or inside sturdy buildings.
According to the Japan Times, the nation's J-Alert warning system went off around 7:55 am Thursday local time, roughly twenty minutes after North Korea launched what is believed to be a ballistic missile.
The missile was expected to fall to earth near Hokkaido around 8 am. Japanese authorities have since informed residents that they are no longer under threat, as the missile is now expected to land far enough away so as not to cause any damage to the island.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
