Japan ordered its military on today to prepare to intercept any dangerous debris that might fall on its territory if a missile launch planned by North Korea goes wrong, according to Reuters. Pyongyang has said it will launch a communications satellite between April 4 and 8 but regional powers believe the real purpose is to test a long-range missile, the Taepodong-2, which is already on its launch pad. "I have issued an order ... to prepare to destroy any object that might fall on Japan as a result of an accident involving a flying object from North Korea," Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada told reporters after a meeting of Japan's Security Council. North Korea has given international agencies notice the rocket's planned trajectory should take it over Japan, dropping booster stages in the sea to its east and west. It said any attempt to shoot down the rocket itself would be an act of war.
