A Chinese passenger plane carrying 220 people was put in danger recently after unknowingly crossing the path of a North Korean rocket.
A Chinese passenger plane carrying 220 people was put in danger recently after unknowingly crossing the path of a North Korean rocket.
The missile had been launched, without notification, minutes before the aircraft, which was flying over international waters, entered its trajectory.
At its highest point the rocket reached double the jet’s altitude.
"This was an extremely irresponsible act on behalf of North Korea. Typically, countries when they fire a missile or do something like this, they'll have an exclusion zone." [CNN]
It was South Korea that first noticed the near miss and alerted the Chinese government.
Given their proximity, history, and current tensions, the country is keeping close watch on North Korea’s military activities, including long-range missile trials and possible nuclear testing.
That same day it was observed that several other launches took place, and in some case the rockets reached distances equivalent to that of Seoul, the South Korean capital.
