TOKYO - The Japanese government confirmed Tuesday it has readied itself for a possible test-firing of a rocket or ballistic missile by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) by deploying both ground and sea-based antimissile interceptors.
But while saying that diplomacy remains the first course of action, with the Japanese government stating it hopes the U.S. Security Council will be able to suitably respond to the DPRK's fourth test of a nuclear device on Jan. 6, the defense ministry said it remains on high alert.
Japan's Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told a press briefing Tuesday that his ministry is fully poised for any rocket or missile tests by the DPRK, stating that Patriot Advanced Capability-3, or PAC-3, surface-to-air missile systems have been deployed at 34 locations.
The locations comprise the ministry's facilities in Ichigaya in Tokyo, as well as in Asaka and Narashino, which is close to the nation's capital.
Nakatani said a launch could occur without prior notice and as such Japan had to ready itself for a number of potential scenarios.
He said past launches have come without any warning, and, as such, the potential for rocket or missile-related objects falling into waters around Japan existed.
Hence, while not mentioning specifics, Japan's defense minister said Maritime Self-Defense Force's Aegis destroyers, equipped with the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptor systems have also been deployed in the Sea of Japan and surrounding waters.(Xinhua)