Japan orders destruction of any North Korea ballistic missile

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Japan orders destruction of any North Korea ballistic missile

On May 29, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters about North Korea's notice of satellite launch in the prime minister's office. Koichi Ueda, the self-defense forces, has been ordered to destroy any North Korea ballistic missile that is likely to fall within Japanese territory, after Pyongyang informed Tokyo that it will launch an artificial satellite between May 31 and June 11.

Japan views the launch of an artificial satellite as similar to the launch of a ballistic missile, which violates U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Even if North Korea claims it's a satellite launch, launches using ballistic missile technology violate U.N. Security Council resolutions and are a grave issue that affects the safety of our citizens, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters on May 29.

The government will continue to collect information and monitor North Korea, and work closely with the United States and South Korea, he said.

The defense minister, Yasukazu Hamada, directed the SDF to destroy any incoming ballistic missile in preparation for possible fall within Japanese territory.

The North Korean launch window will see the Aegis destroyers equipped with anti-ship missiles deployed in the East China Sea.

The land-based Patriot Advanced Capability 3 PAC - 3 will also be used to shoot down missiles from the ground SDF camp Naha and Camp Yonaguni, and the Air SDF Miyakojima Sub Base, all in Okinawa Prefecture.

The order will expire on June 11, the final day of North Korea's announced launch period.

The order applies to ballistic missiles or similar objects believed to have been launched from North Korea that are confirmed to be falling within Japanese territory through Japan's ballistic defense system.

Hirokazu Matsuno, the chief cabinet secretary, said in an urgent news conference that there is a possibility of a missile passing through Japanese territory, including the southwestern islands.

Matsuno did not give specific details but said the government urged North Korea to refrain from such an act.

Coast Guard officials on that day revealed that North Korea has announced it will launch a satellite rocket between May 31 and June 11 to reach waters in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea or the east side of the northern Philippines Luzon Island.

The government gathered information from relevant ministries and agencies and met director-general level talks between the Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, land ministry, Japan Coast Guard, Fisheries Agency and Cabinet Secretariat to discuss the matter.

This is not the first time that North Korea has launched a missile to launch a satellite. In the past few weeks, such missiles have been launched from the U.S. toward the south.

To enhance its intelligence-gathering capabilities, North Korea has been developing military satellites.

The North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected the preparations for the launch of the first satellite on May 16 and approved the action plan, according to Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency.

The North Korean government said the first satellite had been ready for loading in mid-July.