Japan intensively prepares for DPRK’s satellite launch

Japanese government is intensively preparing for a satellite launch which will be carried out by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) between Dec. 10 and 22.

Tuesday, December 04, 2012
Japan is among the neighbours reportedly notified of the trajectory of the N Korean rocket launch. Net photo

Japanese government is intensively preparing for a satellite launch which will be carried out by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) between Dec. 10 and 22. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has ordered his cabinet members to collect and analyze information about the launch so as to map out operable measures to secure public safety.  Noda said on Monday in a press conference that Japanese government will take every possible measure to release correct information on the DPRK’s launch in time, according to reports.Meanwhile, a warship belonging to Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force, Kunisaki, left its base in Hiroshima for Okinawa earlier Monday, carrying Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptors to be deployed in the Pacific prefecture to prepare for the DPRK’s launch. The military arrangement probably comes after a destroy order issued by Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto on Saturday, which required Japanese forces to be prepared for the satellite launch.The DPRK announced a satellite launch plan on Dec. 1, saying the earth observation satellite, the second version of Kwangmyongsong-3, will be launched from the country’s Sohae Space Center in North Phyongan Province. Noda, after DPRK’s announcement, postponed a high-level bilateral negotiation between the two countries, which is planned to be held in Beijing on Wednesday and Thursday, adding he will seek cooperation with relative countries to stop the launch. The DPRK attempted a satellite launch in April but failed. However, the Japanese government was criticized for its delay in informing public of the launch.