The United States, Japan and South Korea have agreed that any launch of
a North Korean rocket would be taken to the United Nations Security
Council.
Japan's nuclear envoy, Akitaka Saiki, told reporters after a meeting
between the three countries in Washington Friday that a North Korean
rocket launch would violate U.N. resolutions and uld be taken to the
Security Council immediately.
The three countries have all accused North Korea of using the planned launch to test its ballistic missile capability.
North Korea says it intends to launch a communications satellite between April 4th and April 8th.
Earlier Friday, Japan and the United States began mobilizing their missile blocking capabilities ahead of the launch.
Japan's defense minister (Yasukazu Hamada) said his
government has ordered its military to shoot down dangerous debris that
might fall on Japanese territory during the launch.
Officials say Japan is moving several (PAC-3) land-to-air missiles to its northern coast, as well as deploying two (SM-3) sea-to-air missiles.
News reports say the U.S. Navy is also moving equipment to the waters
around Japan. The reports say Navy officials said the force has
deployed warships that have a radar system to track and destroy
missiles (the Aegis system).
An international intelligence publication (Jane's Defense Weekly) said
Friday that satellite imagery shows North Korea is nearing the final
phases of preparing for its rocket launch. It said recent activity at
the launch site suggests the mission is on or even ahead of schedule.
The White House has warned North Korea that the missile launch would violate a 2006 United Nations Security Council resolution (1718) that bans the country from engaging in ballistic missile activities.