Japan on alert for possible N-Korean satellite launch

Tokyo [Japan], April 23: The Japanese military has been ordered to be alert for possible falling rocket debris, local media reported after North Korea's Kim Jong Un said he planned to launch the country's first military reconnaissance satellite. Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada on Saturday ordered the army to be at higher readiness in case North Korean rocket falls over Japanese territory.The preparations include deploying ground-based Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptor missiles and Aegis-equipped destroyer warships carrying Standard Missile-3 interceptor projectiles; government sources told Kyodo.
During a Tuesday visit to the National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA), Kim instructed the military satellite to be launched on the planned date, the official news agency KCNA reported, without mentioning a specific launch date. Kim called for a number of reconnaissance satellites to be deployed in the future to "firmly establish" the country's satellite intelligence-gathering capability, KCNA said.(DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune