Japan on Alert as N. Korea Plans to Launch 'Satellite'

Facts

• Japan on Monday put its ballistic missile defenses on alert, vowing to use its Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) or Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) to destroy any projectile that threatened its territory.¹
• This comes as Japan's Defense Ministry issued an order to shoot down any North Korean missile that enters its territory after Pyongyang notified Tokyo of its intention to launch a "satellite" in the coming two weeks.²
• According to the Japanese Coast Guard, the notice stated that the launch window was from May 31 to June 11 and that it could affect waters in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and east of the island of Luzon in the Philippines.³
• While these three areas are located outside Japanese territorial waters and its exclusive economic zone, Tokyo worries that the rocket could fly over the islands of Okinawa Prefecture or other areas.⁴
• North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has approved final preparations for the launch, as Pyongyang has allegedly completed its first military spy satellite, which is said to enhance its surveillance capability and improve its ability to strike targets.⁵
• South Korea also warned the North to withdraw from its launch plan, claiming it would threaten regional peace while seriously violating UN Security Council resolutions that ban Pyongyang from using ballistic missile technology.⁶

Sources: ¹Reuters, ²CNN, ³Al Jazeera, ⁴The Japan Times, ⁵Guardian, and ⁶Korea JoongAng Daily.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by FT. North Korea's satellite launch is a dangerous provocation that cannot be allowed to proceed. A working spy satellite would strengthen Pyongyang's ability to conduct a pre-emptive strike as well as monitor potential incoming threats from the US and South Korea.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Archive. North Korea's satellite program is simply defensive in nature. Pyongyang has a right to exercise its sovereignty and justifiable self-defense in response to the confrontational moves made by Washington and Seoul. A successful launch will help defend North Korea against future attacks by the hegemonic US and South Korea.

Predictions