Japan will destroy North Korean missiles if necessary

A governmental official said on Friday that Japan has issued an order to shoot down a North Korean rocket if it threatens the nation's territory.          

Tokyo has readied surface-to-air missiles in and around Tokyo, as well as in Okinawa, and is putting its armed forces on standby ahead of Pyongyang's planned missile launch.            It is also deploying Aegis warships in neighboring waters.        

The Chief Cabinet Secretary, Osamu Fujimura quoted the Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto as asking forces to destroy the projectile or any parts that look set to fall on Japanese territory.                                 

In this context, Admiral Samuel Locklear, who commands U.S. forces in the Asia-Pacific region, said warships were being moved to the best locations to track the rocket during its launch and flight, which North Korea has set for sometime between Dec. 10 and 22.                     

The United States is watching preparations for the launch "very closely," he told a Pentagon news conference. He said U.S. warships were being moved to monitor the rocket, as they were when Pyongyang attempted a similar launch in April.       


REUTERS