Japan puts missile defense system on alert

SGGPO 05/30/2023 18:54

Kyodo news agency quoted the Defense Ministry's statement as saying: "Japan will take countermeasures against ballistic missiles and other missiles that are confirmed to land on our territory." Accordingly, Japan will use SM-3 missiles or Patriot PAC-3 missiles to intercept missiles headed toward the country.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno holds a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on May 29 to announce the event. Photo: Kyodo

Japan's ballistic missile defense system was put on alert on May 29, with the government warning it would shoot down any missile threatening its territory. The move came after Japan received a notification from North Korea of a plan to launch a satellite, possibly between May 31 and June 11.

It would be the latest step by North Korea in a series of missile launches and weapons tests in recent months, including a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile.

Japan puts missile defense system on alert photo 1

A Patriot Advanced Capability-3 surface-to-air missile interceptor system is deployed at an Air Self-Defense Force base on Miyako Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Photo: Kyodo

Japan expects North Korea to launch a satellite-carrying missile over Japan's southwestern island chain, a Defense Ministry spokesman said. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stressed that any missile launch by North Korea would violate United Nations Security Council resolutions and called on Pyongyang to exercise restraint. The prime minister's office said Japan would cooperate with the United States, South Korea and other countries and do everything it could to collect and analyze information from any launch.

Source