Japan completes deployment of missile interceptors
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E-mail Xinhua, December 8, 2012
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Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda (C) gives a speech as he addresses soldiers while in front of a Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile launcher at the Defence Ministry in Tokyo on December 7, 2012. 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. [Xinhua/AFP] |
Japan completed the deployment of its Self-Defense Forces (SDF) Saturday to prevent any wreckage of a satellite launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea ( DPRK) from falling into Japan's territory.
A senior SDF officer reported the deployment completion to Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto earlier Saturday morning, Japan' s Kyodo News reported.
Morimoto also ordered the SDF to remain on alert for the coming two weeks in readiness so as to cope with any new development of the launch.
DPRK announced that it will launch a three-stage rocket between Dec. 10 and 22 to put a satellite into orbit. However, some countries considered that the launch is DPRK's test for long- range ballistic missile.
Morimoto issued a "destroy debris" order on Friday, requires the SDF to destroy any wreckage from the rocket if it falls into the Japanese territory.
According to reports, some ground-based Patriot Advance Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile interceptors have been deployed in Okinawa and three PAC-3 units have been installed at central Tokyo and areas near the capital.
