Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday that the Japanese Self-Defense Forces’ destroyers and missile defense systems are ready to deal with any “unforeseen situation” that could arise from North Korea’s launch of a satellite-carrying missile.
“Even if the goal is to launch a satellite, the use of ballistic missile technology constitutes a violation of a number of United Nations Security Council resolutions,” Kishida told reporters.
“It is also an issue that greatly affects national security,” he added.
The Japanese Coast Guard said Monday that North Korea has notified Japan of its intention to launch a missile carrying a satellite from Nov. 22 to Dec. 1 in the direction of the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea.
If the launch is completed, this will be North Korea’s third attempt to launch a satellite into space for spying purposes this year.
Two previous attempts in October and August failed.
Pyongyang’s move comes after it denounced on Monday the possible sale by the United States of hundreds of missiles to Japan and South Korea, describing it as a dangerous act that increases tension in the region and triggers a new arms race.
North Korea’s Defense Ministry said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency that Pyongyang will strengthen deterrence measures and respond to instability in the region, which it said is behind the United States and its allies.
After North Korea announced plans to launch the satellite, the Japanese prime minister’s office said on the “X” platform that the government would work with the United States, South Korea and others to “urge” North Korea not to proceed with the launch.
North Korea is usually keen to notify Japan of its satellite launch plans, and also does so with the International Maritime Organization.
South Korea’s Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment before business hours. North Korea has not made any official announcement regarding the plan in official media.
The South Korean military issued a warning Monday calling on North Korea to cancel any plans to launch a satellite, which would be a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and a dangerous provocative act that threatens South Korea’s security .
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the military was committed under its 2018 agreement with the North not to participate in actions that increase tension, but indicated it may resume some training and reconnaissance flights it had suspended under the agreement.
Pyongyang is seeking to launch a military spy satellite, saying it plans to create a fleet of satellites to monitor the movements of American and South Korean forces.
North Korea launched a satellite on May 31 and it landed in the sea.
North Korea attempted the mission again on August 24, but this also ended in failure.
The United States and its allies describe the tests of North Korea’s satellite systems as a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, which ban any development of any technology that could be applied to North Korea’s ballistic missile programs.
North Korea considers its military space and missile programs a sovereign right, and analysts say spy satellites are necessary to improve the effectiveness of its weapons.