North Korea tells neighbouring Japan it plans to launch satellite in coming days

Japans coast guard said North Korea has notified it that it plans to launch a satellite in coming days, which may be an attempt to put a military reconnaissance satellite into orbit.

Japans coast guard said the notice from North Korean waterway authorities said the launch window was from May 31 and June 11 and that the launch may affect waters in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and east of the Philippines Luzon Island.

Japans coast guard issued a safety warning for ships that would passing through the area during the launch window. The prime ministers office said Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has instructed officials to do their utmost to gather and analyze information related to the launch and inform people about it.

Pyongyang said early this month its first military spy satellite was ready for launch. Such a launch would use long-range missile technology banned by past UN Security Council resolutions.

North Koreas past launches have demonstrated an ability to deliver a satellite into space, but there are questions about the satellites capability.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Federal staff and is auto-published from a syndicated feed.)