Japan military on alert, prepared to intercept possible North Korean missile
There have been activities indicating Pyongyang is preparing a ballistic missile launch, possibly an intermediate-range Musudan missile, in the eastern part of North Korea facing the Sea of Japan
Defence Minister Gen Nakatani ordered the Self-Defence Forces on Monday to prepare to intercept a possible North Korean missile, a government source said while South Korea also said it had detected evidence of launch preparations, officials from Japan and South Korea said.
Following the order, the SDF deployed the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 surface-to-air guided interceptors on the premises of the Defence Ministry in central Tokyo and step up surveillance activities, the source said.
The order comes after a separate government source said Monday there have been activities indicating Pyongyang is preparing a ballistic missile launch, possibly an intermediate-range Musudan missile, in the eastern part of North Korea facing the Sea of Japan.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff also suggested on Monday evening there are indications that the North may launch a missile, saying it is closely tracking any missile-related signs and maintaining a high state of readiness.
“We’ve detected a sign and are tracking that. We are fully prepared,” said a South Korean official, who declined to be identified.
We’ve detected a sign and are tracking that. We are fully prepared
Tension in the region has been high since North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and followed that with a satellite launch and test launches of various missiles.
