North Korea's imminent launch of what it claims is a rocket carrying a satellite raised the government's tension levels a notch Friday as Cabinet members warned the hermit state to steer clear of provocative actions.
"Whether it says it is a communications satellite or what, it is clearly a violation of resolution 1718 of the United Nation Security Council and it is definitely not something that Japan can just dismiss," Prime Minister Taro Aso told reporters.
The U.N. resolution, adopted in 2006 after Pyongyang carried out missile tests and a nuclear test, stipulates that North Korea abandon all missile development activities. Tokyo claims the restriction includes the launching of satellite-carrying rockets, which experts say are technically identical to ballistic missiles.