North Korea Satellite Launch: Japan, US, South Korea Must Strengthen Preparations

Published in Sankei Shimbun
(Japan) on 23 November 2023
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Dorothy Phoenix. Edited by Michelle Bisson.
On the evening of Nov. 21, North Korea launched a “spy satellite,” in what was the third attempt this year.

The Korean Central News Agency reported that a new model of rocket was launched successfully, and the spy satellite loaded on the rocket accurately entered into geocentric orbit. It claimed that this spy satellite had also filmed an Air Force base in the U.S. territory of Guam.

On the other hand, the Japanese Ministry of Defense is saying that it “is at this point not confirming whether the satellite had entered into an orbit around the Earth.” Japan, the U.S. and South Korea are analyzing the situation.

There was no damage from falling objects, and the Japan Self-Defense Forces did not take any measures to shoot down any objects. The launch was earlier than the Nov. 22 to Dec. 1 timeline that North Korea reported. Once again, it is understood that North Korea is a country which cannot be trusted in the least.

For a satellite to enter into geocentric orbit, it must exceed the speed of an intercontinental ballistic missile. The rocket that carried the satellite is a ballistic missile, which was banned from North Korea by a resolution of the United Nations Security Council. The launch is completely unacceptable. North Korea should immediately renounce its nuclear missile capabilities.

North Korea is closely monitoring the military movements of the U.S., Japan and South Korea via satellite and would use it for both nuclear and non-nuclear missile attacks.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that the satellite is a “serious threat that affects the safety of the people.” His criticism of the launch is justified, but the North Korean dictator is not affected by it. Japan and other countries must impose even more penalties on North Korea.

In a declaration from Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, the government announced that it will steadily work hard on measures to drastically strengthen defense capabilities, including counterattack capabilities. Deployment of launch range missiles to the JSDF must be hastened.

This time, J-Alert, a nationwide, instantaneous alert system was functional, but it was disappointing to learn that there are almost no vital underground shelters in Japan. Why is construction not being rushed?

North Korea will probably not give up until the spy satellite is successfully used. The Korean Central News Agency alluded to plans to launch several spy satellites soon.

After launches failed in May and August, North Korea is hoping for technical cooperation from Russia. Russia must not act against the United Nations Security Council resolutions that its own country approved. China must also alter its protective stance toward North Korea.

North Korea and other despotic countries such as China and Russia are disturbing the peace. Cooperation between Japan, the U.S. and South Korea is essential. In addition to diplomatic cooperation, we hope that the three countries will promote the joint sharing of intelligence in detecting North Korean missiles, as well as holding joint drills.


北の衛星「発射」 日米韓で備えを強化せよ 

北朝鮮が21日夜、今年3度目となる「軍事偵察衛星」打ち上げを試みた。

朝鮮中央通信は新型ロケットを成功裏に発射し、搭載した偵察衛星を地球周回軌道に正確に進入させたと報じた。この偵察衛星が米領グアムの空軍基地などを撮影したとも主張した。

一方、防衛省は「現時点で地球周回軌道への衛星の投入は確認されていない」としている。日米韓3カ国が分析中だ。

落下物による直接の被害はなく、自衛隊は撃墜措置を講じなかった。発射は、北朝鮮が通報してきた22日から12月1日よりも早かった。少しも信用できない国だと改めて分かった。

地球周回軌道への衛星投入には、大陸間弾道ミサイル(ICBM)以上の速度が欠かせない。衛星運搬ロケットは、国連安全保障理事会決議が北朝鮮に禁じた弾道ミサイルそのものである。打ち上げは到底容認できない。北朝鮮は核・ミサイル戦力を直ちに放棄すべきだ。

北朝鮮が偵察衛星にこだわるのは米軍や自衛隊、韓国軍の動向を監視し核、非核双方のミサイル攻撃に利用するためだ。

岸田文雄首相が「国民の安全にかかわる重大な事態だ」と述べ、発射を非難したのは当然だが、北朝鮮の独裁者は痛痒(つうよう)を感じまい。日本や各国はさらなるペナルティーを科すべきだ。

政府は官房長官声明で反撃能力を含む防衛力の抜本的強化の施策に着実に取り組むと表明した。自衛隊への長射程ミサイル配備を急ぐことが必要だ。

今回、全国瞬時警報システム(Jアラート)は機能したが肝心の地下シェルターが日本にほとんどないことに暗然とする。なぜ建設を急がないのか。

北朝鮮は偵察衛星の運用成功まであきらめないだろう。朝鮮中央通信は、早い期間内に数個の偵察衛星を打ち上げる計画に言及した。

5月と8月の発射失敗を受け北朝鮮はロシアの技術協力を期待している。ロシアは自国が賛成した安保理決議に反する行動をとるべきではない。中国も北朝鮮を擁護する姿勢を改めなくてはならない。

北朝鮮や中露という専制国家が平和を乱している。日米韓の連携は重要で、外交上の協力に加え、北朝鮮ミサイルの探知情報の即時共有や3カ国の共同演習を進めたい。
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