According to Japanese information, North Korea is planning a satellite launch in the coming days, which Tokyo suspects is a weapons test. Japan’s Coast Guard issued a warning to ships in the affected waters.
The Japanese Coast Guard has been informed by North Korea that a satellite launch is planned for the next few days. North Korea says it plans to launch between May 31 and June 11, the Coast Guard said. In Tokyo it is suspected that this will involve the launch of a long-range ballistic missile.
It could be an expected attempt to launch a military spy satellite. A launch of this satellite would use long-range missile technology that has been banned by UN Security Council resolutions in the past.
The Japan Coast Guard issued a warning to ships moving in the waters during the period – the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the east of the Philippine island of Luzon could be affected.
Japan condemns North Korea’s planned satellite launch
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida sharply condemned the satellite launch announcement. In cooperation with the United States, South Korea and other countries, North Korea will be urged not to launch a missile, his office said on Twitter. Every North Korean missile launch represents a serious violation of a UN Security Council resolution. Information about the process is collected, analyzed and published.
Cabinet chef Hirokazu Matsuno said a missile launch by North Korea – even if it was called a satellite launch – would affect the safety of Japanese citizens. “We will take destructive action against ballistic missiles and other missiles known to land on our territory,” the Japanese Defense Ministry said.
development of one reconnaissance satellites
As early as December, the self-declared nuclear power North Korea reported that it had successfully tested the development of a reconnaissance satellite. A series of missile and weapons tests followed in recent months, including testing of a new solid-propellant ICBM.
Last month, North Korea’s state media announced that it had completed the development of its first military Earth observation satellite. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was quoted as saying that the “number one military reconnaissance satellite” is complete and could be shot down at the scheduled time. He inspected a military satellite facility in May, North Korea’s state news agency KCNA reported. He approved the final preparations for a launch.
Can satellite provide high-resolution images?
Earlier missile tests have shown that North Korea is capable of launching a satellite. However, the capabilities of the device are controversial. Some South Korean analysts have questioned the satellite’s ability to provide high-resolution imagery.
North Korea is prohibited from testing ICBMs and other ballistic missiles by UN decisions. Depending on the design, such rockets can be equipped with one or more nuclear warheads. North Korea’s nuclear weapons program is perceived as a direct threat by the US and its allies such as Japan and South Korea.