The Hyogo Prefectural Government lodged a protest Wednesday with the Defense Agency about a missile-related drill over the Sea of Japan the previous day that was conducted without sufficient notice.
No missiles were launched during the drill, according to the Defense Agency, but flares fired to draw heat-seeking missiles off target fell into the sea near a fishing boat, frightening its crew and prompting them to flee, Hyogo officials said.
The prefecture said the fishing boat was apparently on the southern edge of the training zone, which covered a 330 km × 250 km area.
None of the six crew members aboard the fishing boat was injured, but at least 10 fishing boats were in the area. The prefectural government said the test could have had "fatal consequences."