Japan threatens ‘destructive measures’ after North Korea warns of satellite launch

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday ‘strongly urged’ North Korea not to go ahead with a planned satellite launch

The Japanese defence ministry said it ‘will take destructive measures’ against any projectile ‘confirmed to land in our territory’

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North Korea test-launched what it said was a new type of solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile last month. Pyongyang told Japan on Monday of its plan to launch a satellite as soon as this week. Photo: KCNA via Reuters

Published: 12:02pm, 29 May 2023Updated: 12:04pm, 29 May 2023

Japan aims to destroy any North Korean missile that violates its territory and is making preparations to do so, its defence ministry said on Monday after North Korea told Tokyo of a plan to launch a satellite between May 31 and June 11.

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

Analysts say a military satellite would enhance North Korea’s surveillance capability and improve its ability to strike targets in the event of war.

“We will take destructive measures against ballistic and other missiles that are confirmed to land in our territory,” Japan’s defence ministry said in a statement.

A Japanese solider takes part in a drill to mobilise a Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile unit on the outskirts of Tokyo. Japan’s defence ministry said it would use its Standard Missile-3 or Patriot Missile PAC-3 to destroy a North Korean missile. Photo: Reuters

The ministry said it would use its Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) or Patriot Missile PAC-3 to destroy a North Korean missile.