Japan considers intercepting falling North Korea rocket
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan can legally shoot down any dangerous object falling toward the country, the government's top spokesman said on Friday, after North Korea said a planned rocket launch would send it across Japanese territory.
"Under our law, we can intercept any object if it is falling toward Japan, including any attacks on Japan, for our safety," Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura told a news conference. This provision excluded falling aircraft, he added.
Pyongyang has given notice to global agencies of its plans to launch a satellite between April 4 to 8, presenting a challenge to new U.S. President Barack Obama and allies who see the launch as a disguised missile test.
The North has given notice that the first stage of the rocket would splash down in the Sea of Japan, while the second stage would splash down in the Pacific Ocean.
Pyongyang has also said it would retaliate if its rocket was shot down.
Japan has a two-stage ballistic missile defense system created in cooperation with the United States, but a rocket aimed at launching a satellite into orbit might be traveling too high for Tokyo to intercept.
Tokyo reiterated that even if North Korea insisted that it was launching a satellite, it still runs counter to U.N. Security Council resolutions.
"We will strongly call for the cancellation of any launch," Prime Minister Taro Aso told reporters.
(Reporting by Yoko Nishikawa)
