Japan readies to shoot down North Korea spy satellite debris | Weapons News

The Defense Minister also ordered the deployment of destroyers armed with SM-3 surface-to-air missiles to Japan’s coastal waters.

Japan has activated its missile interceptors and is preparing to shoot down debris from a North Korean satellite that could fall on Japanese territory.

Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said on Saturday that the military would prepare PAC-3 surface-to-air missiles in southwestern Japan, including Okinawa and neighboring islands, in an area believed to be under the flight path of North Korean rockets carrying satellites. instructed to

He also ordered the deployment of destroyers armed with SM-3 surface-to-air missiles to coastal waters, the ministry said in a statement.

“Because there is a possibility that an order to dispose of ballistic missiles and other equipment will be issued, we are making the necessary preparations,” he said.

Hamada instructed his troops to “take necessary measures to minimize damage in the event of a ballistic missile falling.”

A missile launch order requires the approval of the prime minister.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said earlier this week that its first military spy satellite would be launched on an unspecified date.

In 2012 and 2016, North Korea tested ballistic missiles. Both missiles flew over Okinawa.

“Invasion Rehearsal”

North Korea has said it has fired about 100 missiles since early last year in response to a joint US-South Korean military operation called invasion rehearsal. Some of the missiles flew over Japan or landed on Japan’s northern coast.

Last week, North Korea tested a solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time.

North Korea is expected to conduct more weapons tests as the US and South Korea continue joint air exercises into next week.

The G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Japan on Tuesday called on North Korea to refrain from further ballistic missile tests following a string of launches this year. The group of wealthy nations also warned North Korea not to carry out the expected nuclear weapons test, saying there would be a “strong” response if it did not comply.