Japan Maintains Patriot System 'Continued Vigilance' Despite North Korea Satellite Warning Period Ending

North Korea's announced period for launching a reconnaissance satellite ended at midnight on the 11th, but the Japanese government has decided to maintain the deployment of Patriot missile interception units for the time being.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to local Japanese media on the day, the Ministry of Defense judged that it is necessary to continue vigilance for the time being, as North Korea, after failing to launch a reconnaissance satellite on the 31st of last month, announced an early second launch.

Accordingly, the "destruction order" previously issued by Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu, allowing the Self-Defense Forces to intercept debris from North Korea's satellite launch, will be extended for the time being.

Under the destruction order, Patriot surface-to-air missile units have been deployed on three islands in Okinawa Prefecture. Aegis ships equipped with interceptor missiles have been deployed in the East China Sea.

Initially, North Korea had notified Japan and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in advance that it would launch a satellite between midnight on May 31 and midnight on June 11. After failing to launch on the first day of the announced period, May 31, it expressed its intention to conduct a second launch within a short period.

North Korea also protested, stating that it may no longer provide prior notification before satellite launches in the future, after the IMO adopted a resolution condemning North Korea's missile launches.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.