Japan’s defense minister orders North Korean satellite to be shot down in case of ‘threat to the country’

Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada ordered the self-defense forces to shoot down a North Korean missile with a military satellite if it threatens the country’s territory. The corresponding document is published on the website of the Ministry of Defense of the country.

The North Korean authorities plan to launch the satellite from 00:00 on May 31 to 00:00 on June 11. At the same time, Tokyo believes that Pyongyang intends to test a ballistic missile.

“In the event of a sudden change in the situation and the flight of a ballistic missile in the direction of our country in an emergency to prevent damage to life and property of citizens, if it is confirmed that the missile is falling on the territory of our country, measures will be taken against the ballistic missile to destroy it “, the ministry said in a statement.

In early May, Japan installed Patriot PAC-3 missile defense systems on outlying islands in the southern prefecture of Okinawa to, if necessary, intercept fragments of a DPRK missile with which Pyongyang plans to launch a military satellite. The complexes are located on the islands of Miyako, Ishigaki and Enaguni.