Japan puts military on alert fearing N Korean missileAFP, TOKYOJapan yesterday ordered its military to prepare to shoot down a North Korean ballistic missile after Pyongyang this week said it was ready to launch its first military spy satellite. Placing the satellite into orbit would require a long-range projectile, which North Korea is banned from launching because the UN views such exercises as tests of ballistic missile technology. Japanese Minister of Defense Yasukazu Hamada yesterday told the country’s Self-Defense Forces “there is a possibility of ordering destructive measures against ballistic missiles and others,” a statement from the defense ministry said. In 2012 and 2016, North Korea tested ballistic missiles that Pyongyang called satellite launches. A week ago Pyongyang said it had successfully tested a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, hailing it as a breakthrough for the country’s nuclear counterattack capabilities.
