Japan Developing Emergency System To Deter North Korea Missile Launches

Japan is making a new emergency system that will issue faster alerts if North Korea launches any missiles, according to reports Wednesday. The development comes after three missiles fired by Pyongyang Monday fell into Japan’s maritime Exclusive Economic Zone.

The new system will also caution ships and aircraft in Japanese waters and also in the Exclusive Economic Zone, something that previous old systems were unable to do, Sputnik reported, citing Japan’s NHK broadcaster. According to the report, the system will work in different stages — the Cabinet Secretariat will alert the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Coast Guard, and the Fisheries Agency of missile launches from the reclusive state. Following this, ships and aircraft will be informed by radio about threats.

North Korea fired three ballistic missiles that were believed to be medium-range Rodong-class. The missiles flew over 600 miles and were reportedly launched without navigational warning to Japan.

Pyongyang’s latest move attracted criticism from the U.S. and South Korea.

In June, North Korea tested its fifth and sixth intermediate-range ballistic missiles. The U.N. Security Council called for the renewed enforcement of sanctions that were put after the isolated country carried out its fourth nuclear test earlier this year.