TOKYO — Japan’s protection chief on Saturday ordered troops to activate missile interceptors and prepare to shoot down fragments from a North Korean satellite tv for pc which will fall on the Japanese territory.

North Korea’s chief Kim Jong Un mentioned earlier this week that its first navy spy satellite tv for pc that shall be launched at an unspecified date.

North Korea has test-fired about 100 missiles since early final 12 months, saying it was responding to joint U.S.-South Korean navy drills that it calls an invasion rehearsal. Several of the missiles flew over Japan or landed off the northern Japanese coast.

Last week, North Korea test-launched a solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile for the primary time.

Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada on Saturday instructed troops to prepared PAC-3 surface-to-air missiles in southwestern Japan, together with Okinawa and close by islands, in an space believed to be underneath a flight path of a North Korean rocket that can carry the satellite tv for pc.

He additionally ordered the deployment of destroyers geared up with SM-3 ship-to-air missiles to coastal waters, in line with a ministry assertion.

“We are making the necessary preparation because of a possibility of issuing an order to destroy ballistic missiles and other objects,” the ministry mentioned.

An order to fireplace missiles must be authorised by the prime minister.

North Korea is predicted to hold out extra weapons checks because the United States and South Korea proceed their joint air train into subsequent week.

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