Japan resolution against North Korea's rocket launch

Tokyo, April 12 (IANS) The lower house of Japan's parliament Thursday approved a resolution against the planned satellite launch by North Korea this month.

The resolution said moves that will damage the peace and stability in northeast Asia should never be allowed, no matter whether it is a carrier rocket or ballistic missile which North Korea plans to launch, reported Xinhua.

The resolution regarded the launch as a violation of UN Security Council Resolutions and urged North Korea to abandon the plan.

North Korea last month announced its plan to launch an "earth observation" satellite between April 12 and 16 to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of DPRK founder Kim Il-sung.

The announcement has triggered strong reactions from countries including the US, South Korea and Japan. South Korea maintained that North Korea's satellite launch may actually be a test of a long-range missile.

Pyongyang denied reports that it was testing a ballistic missile and insisted that the launch is a peaceful programme aimed at developing North Korea's economy and raising the people's living standard.

Japan is on high alert against the planned launch Thursday. Japan's Self-Defense Force had installed ground-based Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptors on Okinawa, Ishigaki and Miyako islands and in Tokyo to intercept any part of the rocket that may threaten Japanese territory.