The government put the Self-Defense Forces on alert Monday for a possible North Korean ballistic missile launch, ordering warships and Patriot batteries to be ready to shoot down any projectile heading for Japan.
An official confirmed that an order was issued. The official declined to be identified as he is not authorized to speak to the media.
The order was first reported by NHK. A spokesman for the Defense Ministry earlier declined to comment, as did South Korea's Defense Ministry.