Japan has rolled out a battery of Patriot missile launchers in central Tokyo, in response to the DPRK’s announcement. Elsewhere the Japanese government deployed Patriot missiles to islands in the country’s southern Okinawa prefecture.

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said his government would consider intercepting the rocket if it veers off course. South Korea also says it will deploy Israeli-made "Green Pine" missile defense radars to monitor the launch by its northern neighbor. Its military has also initiated an emergency task force to analyse the DPRK’s launch preparations.