On 4 October 2022, North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile from the northern part of the country near its border with China. The missile reportedly traveled an estimated 4,500-4,600 km (2,600 mi) while reaching an altitude of about 970-1,000 km before crashing into the Pacific Ocean. The projectile flew over Japan, prompting Japanese officials to issue an alert for residents in the northeastern areas of the country to take refuge in shelters. Train services in the regions of Aomori and Hokkaido, including in Sapporo city, were temporarily suspended during the test-firing. The missile — believed to be the longest-range projectile ever tested by North Korea — landed in the ocean about 3,200 km off the northern Japanese coast, according to Japan’s defense minister. There were no reports of damage to aircraft or vessels in the sea.