Japan Protests against N. Korea's Missile Launch

Tokyo, July 9 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government on Wednesday lodged a protest to North Korea through its embassy in Beijing over its launch of two projectiles believed to be short-range ballistic missiles the same the day. The action was very problematic in light of safe operations of aircraft and ships, said an official at the secretariat for the National Security Council. The government intends to collect and analyze related information, and increase vigilance against North Korea, which launched short-range missiles also in late June. At a press conference on Wednesday morning, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga criticized the reclusive state, saying that the latest launch amounted to "violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions" regarding its missile development. But the government has not changed its stance toward its bilateral talks with Pyongyang on the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korean spies decades ago, he said, noting that Tokyo will keep a close watch on progress in North Korea's reinvestigation of the issue that started recently. Suga said that the government is analyzing North Korea's intention behind the missile launch. Meanwhile, Parliamentary Senior Vice Defense Minister Ryota Takeda told reporters that North Korea may have tested its "operational capability." Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe instructed relevant ministries and agencies to collect and analyze information in cooperation with the United States, South Korea and other countries, make thorough efforts to confirm the safety of aircraft and ships, and provide accurate information quickly to the public. Abe issued the instructions from Australia, where he is now staying as part of his three-nation Oceania tour. The government held a meeting among senior crisis management and security officials, and bureau-chief-level officials of relevant ministries and agencies including the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry for discussions on how to deal with the missile launch. END