On 31 March, the Japanese government issued an emergency evacuation order for Okinawa Prefecture in connection with North Korea's launch of a space launch vehicle, but then lifted it.

According to NHK and Kyodo News reports, the Japanese government issued a nationwide instantaneous warning system (J-ALERT) early that morning, saying, "It appears that a missile has been launched from North Korea," and urged people to evacuate to buildings or basements.

The Nationwide Instantaneous Warning System is a system in which the Japanese government transmits emergency information to local governments by satellite.

However, the Japanese government lifted the evacuation order about 30 minutes later, saying, "There is no possibility of it falling into our country or passing through the airspace."

In this regard, the Korea Coast Guard announced that an object that could be a ballistic missile appears to have already fallen, Kyodo News reported.

Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno and other heads of relevant ministries went to the prime minister's residence after the evacuation order to be briefed on the situation and discuss countermeasures.

Earlier, North Korea had notified Japan the day before that it would launch a satellite between the 31st of this month and the 11th of next month.

North Korea refers to the satellite as "Military Reconnaissance Satellite No. 1," but the Japanese government considers it to be a ballistic missile.

Defense Minister Hamada has issued a "sabotage order" to the Self-Defense Forces to intercept satellites if they fall on Japan.

The Defense Ministry completed the deployment of Patriots to the Okinawa Prefecture islands of Miyakojima, Ishigakijima and Yonagunijima last month in preparation for North Korea's launch of a reconnaissance satellite.

(Photo=Yonhap News)