Japan stated it will defend itself and destroy any missile launched from North Korea, right after the socialist nation confirmed it plans to launch a new satellite into orbit between May 31 and June 11. The Japanese coast guard has warned the potential threat could affect the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and the Luzon Island in the Philippines.
North Korea’s launch of the satellite is allegedly being prepared since April 2023, and it is set to be sent to space first with the use of a long-ranged technology which is banned by the U.N Security Council, due to being considered a military threat to peace for different countries, as expressed by Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno. However, this is not the first time North Korea tests missiles this way, as previous launches were disguised as “satellite tests” by Pyongyang’s government.
About the destructive threat, Japan’s Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada ordered the country’s force to shoot down any satellite or missile, if it were to enter the Japanese territory. About the alarming news, Hamada himself expressed: “we will take destructive measures against ballistic and other missiles that are confirmed to land in our territory”
The South Korean government will be working closely with Japan and the United States, and warned North Korea to avoid any military actions, and stated it could face consequences for violating the U.N. Security Council agreements for utilizing ballistic technology. Seoul’s Foreign Ministry stated that:
Our government strongly warns North Korea against a provocation that threatens peace in the region and urges it to withdraw its illegal launch plan immediately,
Confusion raised on Monday this week, however, as the launch apparently failed and did not hit Japanese territory, as it had landed on waters of the Korean Peninsula. In spite of this event, plans to launch another satellite are being carried out.
