The Japanese government is increasing its vigilance following North Korea’s announcement of a planned launch of what it is calling a satellite.
Pyongyang has notified international organizations that it is planning the launch between February 8th and 25th.
Japan is gathering and analyzing intelligence in close coordination with the United States and South Korea.
The government plans to urge North Korea to exercise restraint. It sees the launch as ballistic missile development, which UN Security Council resolutions have demanded be stopped.
The government has already ordered the Self-Defense Forces to shoot down the object if it threatens to fall onto Japanese territory.
The SDF has deployed several PAC-3 surface-to-air missile launchers at sites in and around Tokyo, including the Defense Ministry compound. It has also deployed Aegis vessels equipped with high performance missile-tracking radar in the waters around Japan.
The government plans to further examine the North’s notification, such as the direction of the launch, and make necessary preparations.
It says it will release information through its alert systems if North Korea goes ahead with the launch.
Source and image: NHK
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