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DPRK rocket passes over Japan without incident

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-04-05 12:01

TOKYO -- A rocket launched by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea flew over Japanese airspace Sunday, but Tokyo did not fire any interceptors because no debris appeared to fall toward its territory, Japanese officials said.

In response, Tokyo requested an emergency session of the Security Council, spokesman Yutaka Arima said.

The Japanese Defense Ministry detected a "flying object" believed to be a rocket that was launched from the DPRK, flew eastward and passed over northern Japan about seven minutes later, heading toward the Pacific Ocean.

Japan did not make any attempt to intercept it, as no debris fell onto the country, a ministry spokeswoman said, speaking on condition of anonymity, citing department rules.

"Our primary concern is to confirm safety and gather information," Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso told a news conference at his Tokyo office Sunday.

Japan had threatened to shoot down any debris from the rocket if the launch went wrong. It had positioned batteries of interceptor missiles on its coast and radar-equipped ships off its northern seas.

Chief Cabinet spokesman Takeo Kawamura said it could not immediately be confirmed if a satellite was launched. The US, South Korea and Japan believe the country is really testing long-range missile technology.

"Even if a satellite was launched, we see this as a ballistic missile test and we think this matter should be taken to the United Nations Security Council," Kawamura said. "We are highly concerned by this matter."

The rocket dropped its first stage about 175 miles (280 kilometers) off the western coast of Akita, in the north Japan coast, into the Japan Sea. It was to drop a second stage into the Pacific at a spot about 790 miles (1,270 kilometers) off Japan's northeastern coast, the Defense Ministry spokeswoman said.

Japan said it would convene a security panel meeting later in the day to discuss what further measures can be taken. Kawamura said Japan would work closely with Washington and with the UN.

"We strongly protest this launch," he said.