10:43 p.m. November 21st, North Korea launched a missile using ballistic missile technology aimed at launching satellites from the Dongchang-ri area of the northwestern coast of North Korea. One shot fired separates into several, The first fell at around 10:50 p.m. outside the warning drop zone over the East China Sea, about 350 km west of the Korean Peninsula.
The second passed over the main island of Okinawa and Miyakojima at around 22:55, and at around 22:57, over the Pacific Ocean, about 1200 km southwest of Okinotorishima. It is presumed that the object fell within the warning drop zone, which is outside Japan’s EEZ. Further details are currently being analyzed, but at this time no satellite has been confirmed to be put into Earth orbit.
The Prime Minister was instructed to immediately report on this matter and to (1) make every effort to collect and analyze information and provide prompt and accurate information to the public, (2) thoroughly confirm the safety of aircraft and ships,
and take all possible measures to prepare for unforeseen circumstances.
In addition, in response to the launch in the form of passing overhead, (1) Focus on the area where it is judged to have passed overhead, and promptly check whether there is any damage caused by falling objects, etc. (2) Continue to thoroughly collect and analyze information, including future developments in North Korea.
In cooperation with the United States, the Republic of Korea, and other countries concerned, we will continue to We were instructed to take
the necessary measures in a timely and appropriate manner.
- The government has communicated information on the launch and passage through J-Alert and other means, and has provided information to aircraft and vessels passing in the vicinity, but so far there have been no reports of damage or other information.
- In addition, the Prime Minister’s Office on the Situation in North Korea, which is located at the Crisis Management Center of the Prime Minister’s Office, gathered information from relevant ministries and agencies, and convened an emergency team to discuss responses. In addition, the National Security Council held a meeting from around 0:15 a.m. today to discuss information aggregation and response.
- At the Ministry of Defense, the Minister of Defense receives instructions from the Prime Minister: (1) Thoroughly confirm whether there is any damage in Japan’s territory and the surrounding waters, (2) Make every effort to collect and analyze necessary information in close cooperation with the United States, the Republic of Korea, and other countries. Continue to take all possible measures to prepare for the occurrence of unforeseen circumstances and conduct vigilant monitoring. I gave instructions on the following three points.
- North Korea’s series of actions, including its repeated launches of ballistic missiles, threaten the peace and security of Japan, the region, and the international community. In particular, North Korea’s recent launch over the Japan archipelago is extremely problematic not only from the perspective of ensuring the safety of aircraft and ships, but also of nearby residents. In addition, such a launch, even if it is intended to launch a satellite, violates the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions that prohibit any launch using ballistic missile technology by North Korea, and is a serious issue related to the safety of the Japanese people. Japan lodged a strong protest against North Korea and condemned it in the strongest terms.
- In order to protect the lives and property of the Japanese people, we will continue to work closely with the United States, the Republic of Korea, and other relevant countries to make every effort to collect, analyze, and monitor information, and if we obtain additional information that should be made public in the future, we will promptly announce it.