Japan strongly protests against DPRK's satellite launch (3)

（Xinhua）  08:38, December 13, 2012

The DPRK blasted off its rocket at around 9:49 a.m. local time and it passed Japan's Okinawa at around 10:01.

Immediately after the launch, Prime Minister Noda ordered all related ministries to be fully prepared and spare no effort to prevent any unforeseen accident from occurring.

Japan also issued alarms to Okinawa's local government through its national alarm system.

As no debris of the launch fell into Japan's territory, Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto did not issue destroy order to the Self- Defense Forces deployed in Okinawa and no missile interceptors were launched.