North Korea Will Launch Satellites, Japan Is Ready To Shoot Down Any Threatening Projectiles

2023-05-29 08:52:50

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Japan is ready to shoot down any projectiles that threaten its territory after North Korea announced it would launch a satellite. Photo/REUTERS

TOKYO – Japan on Monday (29/5/2023) alerted its ballistic missile defense and is ready to shoot down any projectiles that threaten its territory. It happened after North Korea (North Korea) notified that it would launch a satellite between May 31 and June 11.

Nuclear-armed North Korea says it has completed its first military spy satellite and its leader, Kim Jong-un, has approved final preparations for its launch.

“The government recognizes that there is a possibility that satellites may pass over our country’s territory,” Japanese Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said at a routine briefing after North Korea notified Japan’s Coast Guard of plans to launch the satellite, as quoted Reuters.

The Japanese Defense Ministry order, the first in response to a North Korean space launch since 2016, comes after Japan in April sent a destroyer into the East China Sea carrying a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptor that can hit targets in space. and dropped to the ground.

The SM-3 is designed to engage warheads closer inland to the Okinawa islands.

Japan predicts North Korea will fire its satellite-carrying rocket at the southwestern island chain as it did in 2016.

North Korea’s state media has criticized plans by rivals South Korea, the United States and Japan to share data real-time at its missile launch, described the three discussing “evil steps” to tighten military cooperation.

Analysts say North Korea’s satellites are part of a reconnaissance technology program, which includes drones, intended to enhance its ability to engage targets in the event of war.

North Korea has conducted a series of missile tests in recent months, including a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters that any North Korean missile launch would be a serious violation of UN Security Council resolutions condemning its nuclear and missile activities.

“We strongly urge North Korea to refrain from launches,” its office said on Twitter, adding it would cooperate with the US, South Korea and other countries, and would do all it could to gather and analyze information from any launches.

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