Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada today ordered the military to go on high alert in case the North Korean missile strikes Japanese soil, the Kyodo news agency reported. In preparation, Patriot missiles and air defense warships that can intercept missiles are being deployed, government sources told Kyodo.
During a visit Tuesday to the national space agency NADA (National Aerospace Development Administration), Kim instructed that the military satellite be launched as planned, without specifying a date.