Japan defense chief urges N. Korea to show restraint over missile launch+

TOKYO, March 10 Kyodo - Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada urged North Korea on Tuesday to refrain from launching what it says is a satellite, warning the test-firing of what other countries see as a ballistic missile would destabilize East Asia.

''I believe it's important for the government to call on North Korea to refrain
from an action that would damage peace and stability in the region,'' the
minister told a regular news conference.
Hamada's remark came in response to North Korea's warning Monday that any move
to intercept its ''communications satellite'' would result in a counterstrike.
Hamada said the Defense Ministry will be readying itself to deal with the
missile test-firing ''in an appropriate manner,'' repeating Tokyo's intention
to intercept a ballistic missile in accordance with the law if it looks to hit
anywhere on Japanese soil or in Japanese territorial waters.
''We must be readying ourselves to do various things we have thought of if we
think about the nation's security,'' he said, adding that the ministry should
deal with the matter in a ''calm manner.''
North Korea says it is preparing to put a communications satellite into space,
but countries like Japan say it may in fact be planning to test-fire a
redesigned long-range Taepodong-2 missile.
Japan, South Korea and the United States have said that even if Pyongyang
launches a satellite, it would violate existing United Nations Security Council
resolutions.
==Kyodo
2009-03-10 20:43:30