日本稱將啟動海陸防御系統(tǒng)攔截朝鮮導(dǎo)彈

Japan issues orders of destruction of Pyongyang's failed rocket

日本媒體26日披露，在獲悉朝鮮已經(jīng)開始準(zhǔn)備發(fā)射衛(wèi)星后，日本自衛(wèi)隊已開始實施攔截計劃。陸上導(dǎo)彈防御系統(tǒng)和海上導(dǎo)彈防御系統(tǒng)將在3天后、即30日啟動。25日，日本政府也已決定，將簡化程序，直接由防衛(wèi)大臣正式宣布攔截來自朝鮮“導(dǎo)彈”的命令。

Japan on Friday ordered its Self- Defense Forces to destroy debris from Pyongyang's rocket in the event that its launch fails and fragments fall into Japanese territory, Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada announced.

"I issued a necessary order to Self-Defense Force units to prepare for an event in which a North Korea (DPRK)'s projectile falls onto our country in an accident," Hamada told reporters.

"We will do everything to deal with any flying object to assure the Japanese people's safety and security," he said after meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso.

The unprecedented decision was made at a meeting of the Security Council of Japan, the nation's top security panel.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has said it will launch a communications satellite in April.

Japan, the United States and South Korea suspect Pyongyang's planned launch may be a test-firing of a ballistic missile.

Japan is concerned that if the launch fails, rocket debris, such as boosters, may fall somewhere in northeastern Japan, over which the rocket is expected to fly.

Local media have reported Japan is to deploy two Aegis-equipped destroyers in the Sea of Japan and Patriot interceptors in northern prefectures of Akita and Iwate.

Earlier, Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone said the country is not sure if the interception could be successful as it has no experience. However, Hamada said Japan is totally prepared and he "had no doubt we can do it."