Japan prepares to shoot down North Korea satellite if it falls on Japan

FILE PHOTO: Japan's Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada attends a photo session with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other cabinet ministers at Kishida's residence in Tokyo, Japan, August 10, 2022. REUTERS/Issei Kato/Pool

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan's Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada on Saturday ordered the country's military to prepare to shoot down a North Korean spy satellite should it fall within Japan's territory.

Hamada ordered the Self-Defense Forces to make necessary preparations as he could potentially "order the destruction of ballistic missiles", the Defense Ministry said in a statement.