

Japanese Maritime Defence Force's Aegis cruiser Myoko and Kongo leave the Sasebo naval base in Nagasaki prefecture.

TOKYO: Japan has issued an order to shoot down a North Korean rocket if it threatens the nation's territory, a government official says.


It is also deploying Aegis warships in neighbouring waters.

South Korean protesters at a rally denouncing North Korea's rocket launch.

South Korean protesters at a rally denouncing North Korea's rocket launch. Photo: AP

The Defence Minister, Satoshi Morimoto, has told forces to destroy the projectile or any parts that look set to fall on Japanese territory, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, Osamu Fujimura, told reporters on Friday.


Pyongyang insists it is a peaceful satellite launch, but the international community sees it as a poorly disguised test of ballistic missile technology, which is banned under United Nations Security Council resolutions.


Once Pyongyang launches the rocket, the government will swiftly deliver information to local authorities and broadcasters, Mr Fujimura said.


Japan was still hoping that North Korea would abandon its plan.

"North Korea's rocket launch clearly violates UN security council resolutions, and also contradicts the UNSC presidential statement issued after the launch in April," Mr Fujimura said.

"If the launch is forced through, Japan will regard it as extremely deplorable."

Meanwhile two US guided missile destroyers have been sent to the area ahead of the launch, an official told AFP.


Admiral Samuel Locklear said naval ships had been sent to the region "so we understand if they do violate the UN Security Council [resolution] and launch a missile, what kind is it? What is it about? Where does it go? Who's threatened?"

UN diplomats inside and outside the security council have started consultations behind the scenes on what action to take if Pyongyang goes ahead with the launch, Kyodo News reported.

Agence France-Presse