North Korea has informed Japan that it is preparing to launch a satellite as early as this week, Tokyo announced on Monday, but warned it could actually be a sanctions-defying ballistic missile test.
North Korea has informed Japan that it will launch a rocket between May 31 and June 11, identifying waters near the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and east of Luzon Island to the Philippines as alert areas, a Japanese coast guard spokesman told AFP.
These areas are generally designated for falling debris or rocket stages.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida asked officials to gather intelligence “on North Korea’s notification of the launch of a ballistic missile it describes as a satellite,” his office said in a tweet.
“Even if described as a satellite, a launch using ballistic missile technology would violate United Nations Security Council resolutions” and threaten the safety of people, Kishida told reporters.
In 2012 and 2016, Pyongyang tested ballistic missiles it called satellite launches. The two flew over the Okinawa region in southern Japan.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this month inspected the country’s first military spy satellite as it prepared to be launched, and gave the green light to his “future plan of action”.
In 2021, Kim had identified the development of such satellites as a key defense project for the North Korean military.
Because long-range rockets and space launchers share the same technology, analysts say developing the capability to put a satellite into orbit would provide Pyongyang with cover to test banned intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
The Japanese Ministry of Defense has issued an order to shoot down any ballistic missile confirmed to be about to fall on its territory.
South Korea’s foreign ministry condemned the launch plan, but officials did not confirm to AFP whether Seoul had also been informed directly.
“North Korea’s so-called ‘satellite launch’ is a serious violation of UN Security Council resolutions banning all launches using ballistic missile technology, and is a clearly illegal act that cannot be justified under any circumstances,” the ministry said.
South Korea and Japan are working to mend long-standing ties, including cooperating more in the face of North Korea’s military threats.
– Unusual position –
Meanwhile, Kishida reaffirmed on Monday that Tokyo was open to talks with Pyongyang.
North Korean state media released a statement from the country’s deputy foreign minister on Monday, appearing to endorse a conciliatory approach to relations with Japan – an unusual stance by Pyongyang.
If Japan avoids “being shackled by the past and seeks a way out to improve relations, there is no reason for the DPRK and Japan not to meet,” Pak Sang Gil’s statement said, using the initials of North Korea’s official name. .
Pak, however, said Japan needed to move away from sticking points such as the “kidnapping issue” for relations to improve.
Japan suspects that dozens of people still missing were abducted by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 1980s to train spies in Japanese language and culture.
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