North Korea informs Japan that it will launch a satellite before June 4

North Korea has notified Japan of a plan to launch a satellite-carrying rocket by June 4, the Japanese government announced Monday, putting the region on high alert over the possible use of ballistic missile technology.

As reported by Kyodo NewsThe notification, which came ahead of a trilateral summit between Japan, China and South Korea in Seoul, designated three maritime danger zones believed to be areas where rocket debris could fall: two west of the Korean Peninsula and the other east of the Philippine island of Luzon, the Japan Coast Guard reported.

Reacting to the notification, officials from Japan, the United States and South Korea confirmed during telephone conversations that they will urge North Korea to cancel the plan, as any launch of a projectile using ballistic missile technology constitutes a violation of UN resolutions. the UN, according to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is currently in South Korea to attend the summit involving East Asian leaders, early on Monday ordered relevant ministries and agencies to make every effort to collect and analyze information about the possible launch of the satellite.

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On Sunday, Kishida and his South Korean counterpart, President Yoon Suk Yeol, agreed to work together to confront Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile threats during bilateral talks in the South Korean capital.

A South Korean military Joint Chiefs of Staff officer said Friday that the country had detected activity that indicated North Korea was likely preparing to launch a reconnaissance satellite.

In the Tongchang-ri area, in northwest North Korea, signs of preparations for the launch of a military spy satellite were observed.

Pyongyang last launched a reconnaissance satellite in November and has since revealed a plan to launch three more this year.

North Korea claimed the satellite had been successfully placed in Earth orbit, but South Korea said in February that it did not appear to be operational.