Japan threatens to shoot down North Korean missile

Japan has said it is ready to intercept any North Korean missile that falls on its territory, after Pyongyang announced plans to launch a satellite.

Japan's Defense Ministry announced today that Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada has ordered the country to be ready to intercept any missile launched by North Korea if it is confirmed that it will fall on Japanese territory. Preparations include deploying Patriot PAC-3 air defense missiles and Aegis destroyers equipped with SM-3 interceptor missiles.

The statement came after a Japanese coast guard official said North Korea had notified Japan of its plan to launch a satellite using a rocket between May 31 and June 11.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that any North Korean missile launch, including a satellite launch, violates UN Security Council resolutions and poses a serious threat to the safety of Japanese people.

Security Council resolutions ban North Korea from testing ballistic missiles. However, Pyongyang says the ban does not apply to its civilian space program.

Japan, South Korea and the US all believe that North Korea's satellite launches are just "cover" for missile testing, because they use similar technology.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno affirmed that "missile tests with satellite launch covers" are a threat to Japan's security, emphasizing that Tokyo will closely monitor the situation and respond if necessary.

A rocket tested by North Korea in December 2022. Photo: KCNA

North Korea's state news agency KCNA announced in mid-month that Pyongyang had completed its first spy satellite. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un later inspected a spy satellite base with his daughter, stressing that a successful launch was an "urgent need" that would "strengthen the country's defense capabilities."

Analysts say the military satellites are part of North Korea's efforts to improve its surveillance and tracking technology to improve its ability to strike targets in the event of a conflict.

Pyongyang has tested satellite systems in several missile launches. Leader Kim Jong-un has said North Korea is pursuing the goal of developing spy satellites to provide real-time information on military actions by the US and its allies.

The Security Council has imposed a series of sanctions in response to Pyongyang’s previous nuclear and ballistic missile tests. The last time North Korea launched a satellite was in February 2016, but Japan said it was actually a test of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) technology.

Vu Anh (According to Reuters )

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