The Japanese government said Tuesday it has been notified that North Korea intends to launch a "satellite" between Thursday and Aug. 31 in what is believed to be a rerun of a failed attempt a few months ago.
Pyongyang tried to launch what it called a military reconnaissance satellite into orbit on May 31 but was unsuccessful.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed relevant government agencies to analyze North Korea's plan as much as possible and coordinate with the United States and South Korea in urging Pyongyang not to carry out the launch.
Kishida told reporters that Japan considers the launch of a rocket with a satellite by North Korea as equivalent to the firing of a ballistic missile, breaching U.N. Security Council resolutions that have resulted in sanctions imposed on Pyongyang.
The Japan Coast Guard said it was notified in the early hours of Tuesday that North Korea intends to designate three maritime danger zones -- two of which are to the west of the Korean Peninsula, while the third is to the east of the Philippine island of Luzon. The three areas are outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.
The notification came after the leaders of Japan, the United States and South Korea agreed last Friday during a trilateral summit near Washington to boost cooperation in opposing North Korea's rapid development of nuclear and missile capabilities.
The three countries remain on alert over North Korea amid concerns about potential further provocative action by Pyongyang, including an intercontinental ballistic missile test timed to coincide with an ongoing large-scale military exercise between the United States and South Korea.
On five past occasions, North Korea has launched a "satellite" within the first three days of its launch window after notifying others it would do so.
After North Korea's notification in May, Japan's defense minister ordered the Self-Defense Forces to destroy any missile fired by North Korea expected to cross into Japanese territory using ground-based Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptor missiles and Aegis-equipped destroyer warships.
North Korea said when the launch failed that it was due to the "low reliability and stability of the new-type engine system." It also pledged to make another attempt "as soon as possible," according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency.
South Korea's military said at the time that the projectile was a long-range ballistic missile that came down about 200 kilometers from the country's Eocheong Island in the Yellow Sea.
The United States and its regional allies immediately condemned the North for using ballistic missile technology in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
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