Japan may shoot down North Korean missile next month...

[Stratofreighter]

'Satellite' could be shot down / Govt considering intercepting N. Korean rocket if it flies near Japan

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120317003409.htm

South Korea says North wants rocket for nuclear weapon

More troubling, perhaps, for Pyongyang, which is long accustomed to trading invective with Washington, China has called the planned launch a "worry" in a rare attempt to put public pressure on its impoverished ally.

Japan would do its best to prevent any damage from a launch, the country's defense minister said.

"Depending on the situation, we would consider deploying Patriot PAC3 missile interceptors and Aegis ships," Naoki Tanaka told lawmakers in the upper house of parliament, according to broadcaster NHK.

"Considering what happened in 2009, we are prepared to do our utmost to prevent any damage to Okinawa and the rest of the country," he said, in reply to a query from an Okinawa lawmaker.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/ ... 4C20120319