Tension building as Japan, US, ready for North Korean launch

Japan has authorized its military to destroy any debris which may fall on its territory from the controversial North Korean missile launch scheduled for early next month.

In a quickly deteriorating scenario, the US, South Korea and Japan are expressing condemnation and alarm at North Korea’s stance, according to reports by CNN.com and the International Herald Tribune. Meanwhile, US ships, capable of shooting down missiles, are deploying to the Sea of Japan. North Korea is sticking to its story of launching a satellite for commercial purposes while its neighbours and the US are taking no chances. Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said his country has deployed missile interceptors and two warships in the waters between Japan and the Korean peninsula, reports the Tribune. Russia has been advocating restraint to the North Koreans in the light of the mounting tension. "We understand that the current situation in the region of northeast Asia is tense, and this is why it would be better if our partners in North Korea abstained from this, from this launch," Alexei Borodavkin, Russia's deputy foreign minister said. Admiral Timothy Keating, head of the U.S. Pacific Comm in an interview with ABC News said that five systems were ready to tackle the situation. These are Destroyers, Aegis cruisers, radars, space-based infrared systems and ground based interceptors. "We will be fully prepared to respond as the president directs," Keating said. "Everything that we need to be ready is ready. So that's ready twice in one sentence, but we're not kidding, it doesn't take much for us to be fully postured to respond."