Japanese Prepare Missile Defense Related North Korean rocket
Tokyo
began deploying missile defense systems and put the armed forces on
alert ahead of North Korea's missile launch planned this month,
according to several reports and officials on Monday.
State broadcaster NHK reported that a naval vessel carrying ballistic missiles PAC-3 (Patriot Advanced Capability-3) left the naval base of western Japan on Monday, the group headed to the island of Okinawa in the south.
Defence Minister Satoshi Morimoto on Saturday ordered the military to prepare for a rocket launch, the defense ministry spokesman told AFP that "the army, marines and air force we are currently preparing to deploy its troops in Okinawa," where the rocket is likely to pass.
Tokyo also plans to deploy Aegis warship in neighboring waters, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun and other Japanese media on Monday.
The officers prepared to issue orders as early as Friday to fire rockets if seen falling in the territorial Japan, after an emergency meeting chaired by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, the Nikkei business daily reported.
Noda on Monday urged to work closely with the United States, China, South Korea and Russia in preparation for the planned launch, which sparked condemnation from the international community.
"I have ordered cabinet ministers to gather and analyze information more closely with their respective parties, and while we are working with relevant countries," Noda statement quoted by Dow Jones Newswires.
North Korea on Saturday announced that it will launch a rocket between 10 and 22 December, jauhya range rocket launch this year.
They repeatedly tell the neighbors, including Japan about the planned launch trajectory.
Washington and Seoul urges Pyongyang to halt the launch, while Tokyo repeatedly postponed this week's scheduled talks with North Korea.
In April, Japan ordered the preparation of missile defense, including the placement of one of the PAC-3 system in addition to the defense ministry building in central Tokyo, in response to the previous launch.
Military preparation was also performed at the 2009 North Korean missile launch towards the other.
China, an ally and main benefactor of North Korea, on Sunday said it was concerned about the rocket launch plan, according to state media.
State broadcaster NHK reported that a naval vessel carrying ballistic missiles PAC-3 (Patriot Advanced Capability-3) left the naval base of western Japan on Monday, the group headed to the island of Okinawa in the south.
Defence Minister Satoshi Morimoto on Saturday ordered the military to prepare for a rocket launch, the defense ministry spokesman told AFP that "the army, marines and air force we are currently preparing to deploy its troops in Okinawa," where the rocket is likely to pass.
Tokyo also plans to deploy Aegis warship in neighboring waters, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun and other Japanese media on Monday.
The officers prepared to issue orders as early as Friday to fire rockets if seen falling in the territorial Japan, after an emergency meeting chaired by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, the Nikkei business daily reported.
Noda on Monday urged to work closely with the United States, China, South Korea and Russia in preparation for the planned launch, which sparked condemnation from the international community.
"I have ordered cabinet ministers to gather and analyze information more closely with their respective parties, and while we are working with relevant countries," Noda statement quoted by Dow Jones Newswires.
North Korea on Saturday announced that it will launch a rocket between 10 and 22 December, jauhya range rocket launch this year.
They repeatedly tell the neighbors, including Japan about the planned launch trajectory.
Washington and Seoul urges Pyongyang to halt the launch, while Tokyo repeatedly postponed this week's scheduled talks with North Korea.
In April, Japan ordered the preparation of missile defense, including the placement of one of the PAC-3 system in addition to the defense ministry building in central Tokyo, in response to the previous launch.
Military preparation was also performed at the 2009 North Korean missile launch towards the other.
China, an ally and main benefactor of North Korea, on Sunday said it was concerned about the rocket launch plan, according to state media.
