North Korea has informed Japan that it plans to launch a satellite in the coming days, Japanese officials said today, saying the project would involve launching a ballistic missile.
Japan’s coast guard said the warning from the North Korean maritime authorities points to the period between May 31 and June 11 and that the launch could affect the waters of the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and east of Luzon island, in the Philippines.
Therefore, the Japanese authorities have already issued a safety alert for ships passing through the affected maritime area.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s office said on Twitter that it had given instructions regarding “notification of North Korea about the launch of a ballistic missile described as a satellite”.
Kishida instructed authorities to do their best to collect and analyze information related to the launch, calling for vigilance and cooperation with Japan’s allies, namely the United States and South Korea.
Pyongyang said earlier this month that the first military spy satellite was ready to launch. This launch would imply the use of technology prohibited by United Nations Security Council resolutions.
*With Lusa
