The Japanese government remains on high alert as it expects another attempt by North Korea to launch what is suspected to be a ballistic missile sometime by June 11.

North Korea announced on Wednesday that a rocket carrying a military reconnaissance satellite suffered a malfunction after its takeoff and fell into the Yellow Sea.

Pyongyang says it will carry out a second launch as soon as possible.

North Korea notified Japan on Monday that it would launch what it called an artificial satellite sometime between Wednesday and June 11.

Japanese officials believe that the North may launch a ballistic missile in that period under the pretext of putting a satellite into orbit.

They say Japan will stay ready to destroy any incoming missiles, using Maritime Self-Defense Force Aegis destroyers in the East China Sea. The land-based PAC3 system in Okinawa Prefecture, southwestern Japan, is also on standby.

Japanese Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu will meet US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who is visiting Japan, on Thursday to discuss how to respond to the North.

Japan plans to step up surveillance and monitoring, along with the United States and South Korea.