Japan preparing for North Korea's possible missile launch

The Japanese government is making all-out efforts in collaboration with the US and South Korea to gather and analyze information on a possible ballistic missile launch by North Korea, while taking appropriate security measures, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Monday. "We are taking all possible measures to protect the lives of Japanese nationals and their safety," the top government spokesman told a press conference, one day after Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera ordered the Self-Defense Forces to intercept any part of the North Korean ballistic missile if it looks like falling onto Japanese territory. The order came as North Korea appears to be making preparations to launch a ballistic missile from its east coast. Following the order, two Aegis-equipped destroyers carrying the sea-based Standard Missile-3 interceptors were dispatched to the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea. Asked by the reporters why the government has not announced that such an order was issued unlike the three previous interception orders over North Korean missiles, Suga said, "We didn't make an announcement, because it would disclose what kind of steps Japan is taking." The Aegis Combat System (ACS) is an advanced command and control and weapon control system that uses powerful computers and radars to track and guide weapons to destroy enemy targets. Initially used by the US Navy, Aegis is now used also by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Spanish Navy, Royal Norwegian Navy, and Republic of Korea Navy.