29th May 2023 – (Tokyo) Japan’s defence ministry announced today that it is preparing to destroy any North Korean missile that enters its territory. The ministry made the announcement after North Korea informed the Japanese coast guard of its plan to launch a satellite between 31st May and 11th June. North Korea claims that it has completed its first military spy satellite, and leader Kim Jong Un has approved final preparations for its launch.
An analyst believes that the satellite would enhance North Korea’s surveillance capability and improve its ability to strike targets in the event of war. Japan has said that it will use its Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) or Patriot Missile PAC-3 to destroy any North Korean missile.
North Korea has carried out a series of missile and weapons tests in recent months, including a new, solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile. The country has informed the Japanese coast guard about the planned satellite launch, but Japan says that any launch by North Korea, whether it is a missile or a satellite, affects the safety of Japanese citizens.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters that any North Korean missile launch would be a serious violation of a United Nations Security Council resolution. Japan, a staunch ally of the United States, would do all it could to collect and analyse information from the launch.
North Korean media previously criticised plans by South Korea, the United States, and Japan to share real-time data on its missile launches, describing the three countries as discussing “sinister measures” for tightening military cooperation. The tensions between North Korea and Japan have been high for many years, and Japan is taking every precaution to protect its citizens from any potential harm.
The Japanese government has been monitoring North Korea’s missile program closely and has been preparing to deal with any potential threat. Japan’s defence ministry has been working on developing advanced missile defence systems, including the SM-3 and PAC-3, to protect its citizens from missile attacks.
The SM-3 is an advanced missile interceptor that can shoot down ballistic missiles in mid-flight. The PAC-3 is another missile interceptor that is designed to shoot down incoming missiles at a lower altitude. Japan has been deploying these missiles in strategic locations around the country to protect its citizens from potential missile attacks.