North Korea notifies Japan of plan to launch satellite

North Korea notified Japan of its plans to launch a military satellite between 31 May and 11 June, according to the Japan Coast Guard. Such satellites are believed to represent part of North Korea’s strategy to improve surveillance technology, including drones. The deployments are also intended to increase the country’s capacity to strike targets in the event of a conflict. The news follows a series of missile tests by North Korea in recent months, including the launch of a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile.
 
Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, has taken to Twitter to urge North Korea not to launch the missile and has said that Japan would work with allies to try and prevent it. Japan would also monitor the launch in order to collect and analyse information, according to the prime minister’s office. The planned launch follows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspecting North Korea’s military satellite facility in May. Earlier this month, North Korean media criticised plans by South Korea, Japan and the US to share data on Pyongyang’s missile launches.

Tags: Japan,North Korea,Satellite


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