Japan Urges North Korea to Halt Satellite Rocket Launch Plans

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi announced that Tokyo has requested North Korea, via diplomatic channels in Beijing, to cancel its planned satellite rocket launch set between May 27 and June 4 towards the Yellow Sea and east of Luzon Island.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, the country's top government spokesperson, said on Monday Tokyo had demanded via diplomatic channels in Beijing that North Korea cancel its planned satellite rocket launch.

North Korea notified Japan of its plan to launch a rocket carrying a space satellite towards the Yellow Sea and east of Luzon Island between May 27 and June 4, the Japan Coast Guard said earlier in the day.