Japan/North Korea

Japan prepares for North Korea missile launch

Article published on the 2009-03-27 Latest update 2009-03-27 15:58 TU

North Korean missiles
(Photo: AFP )

Japan says it is prepared to shoot down any incoming missile from North Korea. Pyongyang says it is planning to launch a communications satellite but the US, Japan, South Korea and China have all warned that any such action will be unacceptable.

Fears have been raised that North Korea is actually testing a long-range missile capable of reaching north America.

The Japanese Security Council has officially been pacifist since World War II. Defence Minister Yasukaza Hamada told reporters that they made the decision to shoot down anything likely to hit the country ahead of time, rather than wait for a launch.

China, Japan, the US, Russia and the two Koreas are currently locked in a six-nation forum over nuclear disarmament of the North. This launch threatens to disrupt them.

If the action is referred to the UN, North Korea says the talks will be ruined. Russia has urged the country to desist, saying that there is no need to inflame international passions.