North Korea announces sudden move, Japan on alert

Japanese officials believe the launch from North Korea will involve a ballistic missile. Japan's Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, said such an act would violate UN Security Council resolutions.

North Korea has informed Japan of a satellite it plans to launch in the coming weeks, a Japanese coast guard official said on Monday.

What do we know about the launch?

The launch of the satellite, which will take place between May 31 and June 11, according to Pyongyang's announcement, is being speculated to be an attempt by North Korea to install a military reconnaissance satellite in orbit.

Experts believe the launch of the military satellite is an attempt by North Korea to increase its surveillance and attack its enemy with more precision if conflict breaks out.

Earlier this month, North Korea said it has completed work on its first spy satellite and is now ready for launch.

The announcement from North Korea's waterways authorities informed Japan's coast guard that the missile could hit waters in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and east of the Philippine island of Luzon.

Japan's prime minister's office tweeted that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida issued instructions "on North Korea's announcement of the launch of a ballistic missile it described as a satellite."

 "Any missile launch by North Korea, even if it is called a satellite, is a serious violation of UN Security Council resolutions," Kishida told reporters.

The prime minister's office said it would cooperate "with relevant countries such as the US and South Korea". He has instructed the officials to continue monitoring the situation and collect and analyze information about the departure./ Dw