The North Korea government reportedly informed the Japanese government that it plans to launch a “satellite” between Thursday and August 31 in what thought to be a rerun of a previous unsuccessful attempt, Kyodo News reported.
On May 31, Pyongyang attempted to put into orbit what it claimed was a military spy satellite but was unsuccessful.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida gave the relevant government agencies instructions to study North Korea’s plan as thoroughly as possible and work with the US and South Korea to persuade Pyongyang to cancel the launch, according to Kyodo News.
Kyodo News showcases a selection of major stories reported from Japan and other parts of the world.
According to Kishida, Japan considers North Korea launch of a rocket carrying a satellite to the same as the shooting of a ballistic missile, in violation of Security Council resolutions that have led to sanctions placed on Pyongyang.
The North Korean government has announced plans to declare three maritime danger zones, two of which will also be to the west of the Korean Peninsula and one to the east of the Philippine island of Luzon, according to the Japan Coast Guard. The three regions are not part of Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
The notification followed a trilateral conference last Friday between the leaders of Japan, the United States, and South Korea when it decided to increase cooperation in halting North Korea’s quick development of nuclear and missile capabilities.