By NOBUHIKO TAJIMA/ Staff Writer
November 24, 2023 at 18:58 JST
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara on Nov. 24 (Takeshi Iwashita)
The Defense Ministry publicly confirmed on Nov. 24 that a military reconnaissance satellite North Korea launched on the night of Nov. 21 has entered Earth’s orbit.
“As a result of our analysis in cooperation with the United States and South Korea, we have confirmed that some kind of object launched by North Korea is orbiting the Earth,” said Defense Minister Minoru Kihara.
The Japanese government had previously stated that “there has been no confirmation that it entered Earth’s orbit,” but has now revised its view.
Kihara also said, “The details such as whether the object is orbiting as intended by North Korea and whether it is performing its intended function continue to require careful analysis.”
Regarding the North Korean military reconnaissance satellite, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency reported on Nov. 22 that it had entered Earth’s orbit.
That same day, the South Korean military also reported that North Korea’s satellite had entered orbit.
Regarding the difference in timing and content of the announcements from Japan and South Korea, Kihara said, “Public announcements will not necessarily be identical.”
“Japan and South Korea each made announcements based on their own overall judgment,” he said. “The Defense Ministry carefully scrutinizes information obtained by the Self-Defense Forces, from allied countries and other sources, and makes public announcements after comprehensively considering the impact on Japan’s national security and other factors.”
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