MOSCOW (Bernama-Sputnik): Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara confirmed Friday that "some object" launched by North Korea was "orbiting the Earth" after Pyongyang said it had launched a reconnaissance satellite into orbit, Sputnik quoted Japanese news agency Kyodo report.
The agency cited Kihara as saying that the ministry had made the assessment in collaboration with the United States and South Korea. However, the minister refrained from commenting on whether Pyongyang's satellite launch was successful, the report said.
Japan will carefully analyse whether the object has been functioning as planned after the launch, Kyodo cited Kihara as saying.
On Tuesday, North Korea successfully carried out the previously announced launch of its Malligyong-1 military reconnaissance satellite and announced plans to launch several more satellites in a "short span of time".
Following the launch, South Korea partially suspended the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement aimed at reducing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. In response, Pyongyang announced its decision to restore all military measures suspended under the 2018 inter-Korean military accord.
Earlier on Thursday, South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won-sik said the state's previous decision to partially suspend the 2018 inter-Korean military accord was only a "minimal defensive measure" in response to the North's "provocations". Kim Gi-hyeon, the leader of the ruling People Power Party, said later on Thursday that South Korea might scrap the agreement altogether if North Korea "continues its provocations". - Bernama-Sputnik
