Earlier on Monday, North Korea revealed plans to launch a satellite by June 4, in an apparent effort to put the North’s second military spy satellite into orbit despite UN bans.
Officials from Japan, the US and South Korea held talks and called on North Korea to halt the launch, which it said helps Pyongyang’s ballistic missile program and is a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.
North Korea typically sends notice ahead of launches that point out where rocket stages may fall along a southerly path over the Yellow Sea and waters near the Philippines. Pyongyang said it has a right to conduct a civilian space program.
South Korea conducted an air exercise near its border with North Korea in a show of force just hours after Japan received the notification. The drills comprised of about 20 fighters, including F-35A stealth jets, South Korea’s military said in a notice sent to reporters.
Pyongyang had two failed attempts prior to the launch in November that successfully deployed a satellite. North Korea claims the probe it put into orbit has taken photos of sites including the White House.
Kim Jong-un’s regime has said it wants to use spy satellites to keep an eye on US forces in the region, and the probes could help it in its targeting as it steps up its ability to deliver a nuclear strike.