Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters about North Korea’s notice of satellite launch in the prime minister’s office on May 29. (Koichi Ueda)

The Self-Defense Forces has been ordered to destroy any North Korean ballistic missile that is likely to fall within Japanese territory after Pyongyang notified Tokyo that it will launch an “artificial satellite” between May 31 and June 11.

Japan views the launch of an artificial satellite as similar to the launch of a ballistic missile, which violates U.N. Security Council resolutions.

“Even if (North Korea) claims it’s a satellite launch, launches using ballistic missile technology violate U.N. Security Council resolutions and are a grave issue that affects the safety of our citizens,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters on May 29.

He said the government will make every effort to collect information and monitor North Korea, as well as working closely with the United States and South Korea.

Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada ordered the SDF to destroy any incoming ballistic missile in preparation for possible falling within Japanese territory.

In the East China Sea, Aegis destroyers equipped with interceptor missiles will be deployed for defense purposes during the North Korean launch window.

In addition, the land-based Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) will be used to shoot down missiles from the Ground SDF Camp Naha and Camp Yonaguni, as well as the Air SDF Miyakojima Sub Base, all in Okinawa Prefecture.

The order will remain in effect until June 11, the final day of North Korea’s announced launch period.

The order applies to “ballistic missiles or similar objects believed to have been launched from North Korea” that are confirmed to be falling within Japanese territory through Japan’s ballistic defense system.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said in an urgent news conference that “there is a possibility of a missile passing through Japanese territory, including the southwestern islands” if one is launched.

Matsuno didn’t provide specific details but said the government urged North Korea to refrain from such an act.

He said that the Japan Coast Guard received the notice via email from North Korean waterway authority in the early hours of May 29.

Coast Guard officials revealed on that day that North Korea announced it will launch a satellite rocket between May 31 and June 11 toward waters in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea or the east side of the northern Philippines’ Luzon Island.

The government collected information from relevant ministries and agencies and held director-general level talks among the Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, land ministry, Japan Coast Guard, Fisheries Agency and Cabinet Secretariat to discuss the matter.

This is not the first time that North Korea has launched a missile that it calls a satellite. Such missiles have been launched from the country toward the south.

North Korea has been developing military reconnaissance satellites to enhance its intelligence-gathering capabilities.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected the preparations for the launch of the first satellite on May 16 and approved the action plan, according to Pyongyang’s Korean Central News Agency.

Earlier this month, North Korea reported that the first reconnaissance satellite was “ready for loading.”

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