Authorities in Japan are on high alert as North Korea prepares to launch what Pyongyang calls its first military spy satellite. Japanese central and local government officials are ready to activate an early emergency warning system.

Pyongyang has notified the International Maritime Organization of its plan to launch a satellite between Wednesday and June 11th.

A senior official of the ruling Workers' Party says the launch will happen in early June.

Ri Pyong Chol has denounced the massive US-South Korea live-fire drills that began on Thursday. He says military tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in neighboring areas are increasing.

Ri says a military reconnaissance satellite is essential to monitor what he calls dangerous military acts by the US and its vassal forces.

The last time North Korea said it had deployed a satellite was in 2016.

It's believed to have used ballistic missile technology, in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa said: "We will closely coordinate with the United States, South Korea and other countries at the Security Council and through other diplomatic channels. We urge North Korea to stop provocative acts and abide by UN Security Council resolutions."

Authorities in Japan say the projectile could fly over the country's southern islands. A fisher said, "It's frightening because it may fly overhead."
Officials around the country have checked the emergency warning system to promptly pass on information to local residents.

If any part of the projectile is confirmed to be falling over Japanese territory, the country's Self-Defense Forces have orders to destroy it.