Japan PM launches investigation of NK missiles

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday the government is investigating the latest missile launch by North Korea, including the possibility it was a submarine-launched ballistic missile.

He pledged to defend Japan "no matter what".

The missile test-firing caught Japan by surprise as many political leaders were out of town campaigning for upcoming elections.

Kishida was traveling in northern Japanese towns hit by the 2011 tsunami and earthquake at the time, but cut his trip short to return to Tokyo to convene a meeting of the country's National Security Council.

IMAGE: AP