Japan puts missile defense system on alert

SGGPO May 30, 2023 18:54

Kyodo news agency quoted the Defense Ministry 's statement as saying: "Japan will take measures against ballistic missiles and other missiles confirmed to land on our territory." Accordingly, Japan will use SM-3 missiles or Patriot PAC-3 missiles to intercept missiles heading towards the country.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno holds a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on May 29 to announce the event. Photo: Kyodo

Japan's ballistic missile defense system was put on alert on May 29, and the government warned it would shoot down any missile threatening its territory. The move came after Japan received a notification from North Korea about plans to launch a satellite, possibly between May 31 and June 11.

It would be the latest step by North Korea in a series of missile launches and weapons tests in recent months, including of a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile.

Kyodo news agency quoted the Defense Ministry's statement as saying: "Japan will take measures against ballistic missiles and other missiles confirmed to land on our territory." Accordingly, Japan will use SM-3 missiles or Patriot PAC-3 missiles to intercept missiles heading towards the country.

A Patriot Advanced Capability-3 surface-to-air missile interceptor system is deployed at an Air Self-Defense Force base on Miyako Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Photo: Kyodo

Japan expects North Korea to launch a satellite-carrying missile over Japan's southwestern island chain, a Defense Ministry spokesman said. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stressed that any North Korean missile launch would violate United Nations Security Council resolutions and called on Pyongyang to exercise restraint. The Prime Minister's Office said Japan would cooperate with the United States, South Korea and other countries and do all it could to collect and analyze information from any launch.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nhat-ban-dat-he-thong-phong-thu-ten-lua-trong-tinh-trang-bao-dong-post691706.html