Japan Okinawa Evacuation Order Lifted... Kishida "No Damage Reported Currently" (Comprehensive)

Japanese Government Issues and Lifts Emergency Evacuation Order in Okinawa Prefecture
Kishida Holds Emergency Meeting with Chief Cabinet Secretary and Defense Minister

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated on the 31st, regarding the emergency evacuation order issued and lifted in Okinawa Prefecture due to North Korea's space launch vehicle launch, "No damage has been reported at this time. Detailed information is being analyzed."

According to NHK and Kyodo News, Prime Minister Kishida met with reporters around 7:30 a.m. at the Prime Minister's Official Residence and said, "An object presumed to be a ballistic missile was launched from North Korea, and I issued instructions as Prime Minister," adding, "I will continue to receive reports on the situation."

Earlier, the Japanese government urged people to take shelter inside buildings or underground through the nationwide alert system (J-ALERT) at 6:30 a.m., stating, "It appears that a missile has been launched from North Korea."

Evacuation order issued by the Japanese government through the Nationwide Instant Warning System (J-ALERT). (Photo by NHK)

The nationwide alert system is a system through which the Japanese government delivers emergency information to local governments via satellite.

Subsequently, at 7:04 a.m., the government announced, "Although it was reported that a missile was launched from North Korea toward Okinawa, it has been confirmed that there is no longer a possibility of it falling on or passing over Japan," and lifted the evacuation order.

The Japan Coast Guard also announced at 7:05 a.m., based on information from the Ministry of Defense, that "the object, which is possibly a ballistic missile, appears to have already fallen."

Related ministers, including Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno and Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, were receiving information and discussing responses at the Prime Minister's Official Residence around 7 a.m. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed, "We will devote all efforts to information gathering and analysis," and "We will take thorough measures to prepare for unexpected situations."

Earlier, North Korea notified Japan the previous day that it would launch a satellite between the 31st of this month and the 11th of next month.

In response, Defense Minister Hamada issued an order to the Self-Defense Forces to carry out destruction measures capable of intercepting the satellite, considering the possibility of it falling on Japan.

The Ministry of Defense has also completed the deployment of Patriot surface-to-air guided missiles (PAC-3) last month on the Okinawa Prefecture islands of Miyakojima, Ishigakijima, and Yonagunijima in preparation for North Korea's launch.