Japan golf event suspended after North Korea fire missile

North Korea's decision to fire a second ballistic missile over Japan has impacted the world of sport, forcing a professional golf tournament to be suspended on Friday.

The second round of the ANA Open in Sapporo was temporarily held up after the ballistic missile was fired over Japan.

The missile reached an altitude of more than 470 miles, and travelled over 2,000 miles, before landing in the sea off Hokkaido.

World No 491 Matthew Griffin, who is competing in the tournament, tweeted: "Well this is a first. We currently have a suspension of play in Sapporo Japan due to North Korea launching ballistic missile."

The 34-year-old Australian later spoke to a radio station in Melbourne, SEN (Sports Entertainment Network), which was reported in the Herald Sun, with Griffin saying: "We woke this morning to an alert text message that said North Korea had launched a ballistic missile.

"They've suspended play at the course for a while and we'll just wait and see what they decide to do.

"Fortunately, it flew well over the top and fortunately it's not too close to us at this stage.

"Over the last few months I guess tensions just gradually increased and you keep thinking or you hope that nothing will ever happen."

Griffin did go on to play his second round and, after 36 holes, stands at three-under-par (71-70), six strokes off the pace held by Japan's Shugo Imahira.

Two of the world's top 100 golfers, Hideto Tanihara and Yuta Ikeda, are taking part in this four-round event.