Japan put Aegis destroyers with SM-3 missiles to sea and deployed Patriot PAC-3 air defence systems in the wake of DPRK's plans to launch a satellite into space

North Korea plans to send a satellite into space. Japan has prepared a missile defence system in case of an emergency.

Here's What We Know

Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida reported on the readiness of the missile defence system. In this case, the head of the government considers unlikely such a development, in which the missile or its debris will fall on the territory of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Fumio Kishida said that North Korea's attempt to send an artificial satellite into space violates existing UN Security Council resolutions. The Prime Minister urged North Korea to abandon the idea.

Japan's missile defence consists of two levels. There are Aegis destroyers at sea, which can shoot down aerial threats using SM-3 anti-aircraft missiles. The Standard family of interceptors can destroy ballistic missiles in mid-flight.

Patriot air defence systems are deployed on land with Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) missile interceptors. The example of Ukraine has shown that the PAC-3 can shoot down ballistic missiles.

We witnessed a similar situation a few months ago. In April, before the North Korean satellite launch, Japan put JS Atago and JS Kongo ships with SM-3 missiles to sea and deployed Patriot systems in Okinawa. The Chollima-1 missile eventually fell into the Yellow Sea along with the Malligyong-1 satellite due to loss of thrust.

Source: NHK