Fans de Naoki Tanaka

Japan readies it defences for North Korean launch
Japan is readying its defences ahead of a planned rocket launch by North Korea next month.

Defence minister Naoki Tanaka said he has ordered the deployment of anti-missile ships to shoot down any rockets fired.

The move by the Japanese government comes as world leaders prepare to meet in Seoul for a summit officially focused on nuclear terrorism.

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North Korea 'missile test'
PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

Reports that North Korea launched two short-range missiles off its western coast on Thursday has worried its southern neighbour.

Some on the streets of Seoul were speculating about the reason.

SOUNDBITE: 41-YEAR-OLD RESIDENT SEO CHANG-SOO SAYING (Korean):

"I think they fired them to show off their power but it's a dangerous activity which might lead to war. I think they're doing it because the regime is not stable."

The reports have come about two weeks ahead of North Korea's planned launch of a long-range rocket.

Pyongyang says it's to put a weather satellite into orbit.

The United States and other countries suspect it's a disguised ballistic missile test.

Japan on Friday officially ordered its Self Defence Forces to shoot the rocket down if it poses a direct threat to its territory.

Japan's defence minister says it's better to be prepared.

SOUNDBITE: JAPANESE DEFENCE MINISTER NAOKI TANAKA SAYING (Japanese):

"We can't look back and regret not having taken action because something unexpected happened, so that's why we're looking at taking any and all measures necessary."

Japan's deploying destroyers with missile interceptors in the Sea of Japan and East China Sea.

It's also putting ground-based interceptors on some of it its southern islands and in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

Paul Chapman, Reuters

Japonya: ''K.Kore füzesi üstümüzden geçse indiririz''
Kuzey Kore önümüzdeki ay yeni ve kapsaml? bir roket f?rlatna denemesine haz?rlan?rken Japonya Pyongyang'a uyar?da bulundu. Savunma Bakan? Naoki Tanaka, füze Japonya'dan geçerse müdahele edeceklerini bildirdi. Amerika da kendi yönünden Kuzey Kore'ye bask?lar?n? artt?r?yor. 2009'da Japonya Kuzey Kore'ye benzer uyar?da bulunmu? ancak uygulamaya geçmemi?ti.

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Japan on alert for North Korea rocket launch
Trucks carrying rocket interceptors and control systems arrive at a port in Okinawa, as Japan puts its missile defences on alert.

Japan will deploy radar-equipped destroyers carrying Standard Missile-3 interceptors in the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea.

It also plans to position ground-based interceptors on some of its southern islands and in the Tokyo metropolitan area ahead of the North Korea missile launch on 12th-16th of April.

Japan says it will shoot down the rocket only if it appears to be falling towards Japanese territory.

Defence Minister Naoki Tanaka said his U.S. counterpart Leon Panetta had approved the move.

(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE DEFENCE MINISTER NAOKI TANAKA:

"We respect the U.S. diplomatic efforts over the issue, but we will maintain our foremost readiness in case the rocket is indeed launched. I think the U.S. Defence Secretary has agreed on our plan when I told him the details over the phone."

Pyongyang said in March that it would use its rocket to launch a weather satellite to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kim il-Sung, the country's founding ruler.

But the U.S., Japan and other countries say it is the same as a ballistic missile test and would violate U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Simon Hanna, Reuters.