Japan readying itself for impending rocket launch by N. Korea

TOKYO, April 3 Kyodo -
Japan is getting ready for an imminent rocket launch by North Korea in
anticipation that Pyongyang will go ahead with the launch as planned, Chief
Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said Friday.
North Korea has announced that it plans to send a communications satellite into
space on a multistage rocket sometime between Saturday and Wednesday, and
experts predict that the launch could take place as early as Saturday.
''North Korea has said for quite some time that it is preparing for a rocket
launch, so we are also making preparations expecting that the launch will take
place as it has notified'' international organizations, Kawamura told a press
conference.
Countries such as Japan, the United States and South Korea believe the launch
is a cover for a long-range ballistic missile test, which would violate a U.N.
Security Council resolution barring the North from engaging in ballistic
missile activities.
Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada told a separate press conference that
''whatever it is (a satellite or a ballistic missile), the Defense Ministry's
role is to steadily take necessary measures for the safety and security of the
Japanese people.''
Japan has already deployed Patriot guided-missile units of the Air Self-Defense
Force at two locations in Akita and Iwate prefectures, over which the North has
said the rocket will fly, as well as at three locations in the Tokyo
metropolitan area to shoot down rocket debris if necessary.
''We have completed necessary preparations as unit deployments have gone well.
The Defense Ministry and the Self-Defense Forces will reconfirm what we have
done so far and work on it with a sense of urgency,'' Hamada said.
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone said separately, ''It is only natural for
the state to intercept (a rocket) in case it could cause damage to Japanese
people or their property.''
The Defense Ministry issued an order late last month to the SDF to destroy the
North Korean rocket or parts of it if they appear to be falling toward Japan
due to a launch failure.
The order was issued ''to prevent damage to lives and property in Japanese
territory,'' the defense minister said. ''We must shake off fire sparks flying
toward us. I have issued this destruction order from that standpoint.''
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Taro Aso reiterated in a meeting with Chinese
President Hu Jintao in London on Thursday that a U.N. Security Council
resolution for new sanctions against or condemning North Korea is needed if
Pyongyang carries out the planned rocket launch.
Kawamura, the top Japanese government spokesman, however, fell short of
revealing at his press conference exactly what action Japan would pursue -- a
sanctions resolution, a resolution condemning the launch or a chairman's
statement.
''Our top priority is to have the Security Council convened and Japan will aim
to reach a consensus that the launch violates the U.N. Security Council
resolution,'' he said.
China and Russia, both permanent veto-wielding members of the Security Council,
will be key to the adoption of a resolution as both have apparently shown
reluctance to agree to a new resolution if the launch turns out to be for
placing a satellite into orbit.
Japan will have to ''continue to make persistent efforts in seeking their
understanding for Japan's position,'' Kawamura said.
==Kyodo