North Korea notified Japan of plan to launch spy satellite

SEOUL TOKYO Reuters: North Korea has notified Japan of a plan to launch a satellite between May 31 and June 11, a Japanese coast guard official said on Monday.

Analysts note that North Korea's efforts to advanced surveillance technology, including drones, are part of its efforts to improve its ability to strike targets in the event of a war.

North Korea has also conducted a series of missile and weapons tests in recent times, including a new, solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile ICBM North Korea informed the Japanese coast guard of the planned launch, the coast guard official said.

The Japanese prime minister's office urged North Korea to avoid the launch and said it would work closely with allies.

We strongly urge North Korea to refrain from launching, said Kim Jong-Un, the prime minister's office in Pyongyang. Japan's government said it would do all it could to collect and analyze information from the launch.

North Korea said last month it had completed work on its first spy satellite. In May, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected a military satellite facility in Pyongyang, North Korean state media KCNA reported.

The report said Kim had approved the next steps of the non-permanent satellite-launching preparatory committee.

North Korean media have previously criticized South Korea, the US and Japan's plans to share real-time data on Pyongyang's missile launches, describing the three as discussing sinister measures for tightening military cooperation.