Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu says the government will do its utmost to deal with North Korea's planned launch of what Pyongyang calls an artificial satellite. Japanese officials suspect that it will actually be a ballistic missile.

Matsuno was speaking to reporters on Monday, following North Korea's notification of the launch between May 31 and June 11.

He said the government will do all it can to gather and analyze information, while monitoring the situation. He said it will promptly release any information that should be made public.

Matsuno also said the government is now sharing information with the relevant municipalities.

They include the southwestern prefecture of Okinawa and its five municipalities on the Sakishima islands. In 2012 and 2016, what appeared to be North Korean missiles flew over an area near the islands.

Matsuno also mentioned the issue of abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korea. He stressed that the government must not put the issue on the back burner as the families of the abductees are getting older.

Matsuno said Prime Minister Kishida Fumio will continue to convey his determination to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to resolve the issues between the two countries and open up a new era.

He added that Japan hopes to hold high-level talks to arrange a meeting between Kishida and Kim at an early date.