Japan: North Korea may provoke on ruling party founding day

Japan's defense minister says North Korea could make a new move on the day of its ruling party's founding.

North Korea recently launched two missiles that flew over Japan. Illustration photo: AP

October 10 is the timeNorth Korea may take further provocative actions, so Japan needs to be cautious, according to the Ministry.ChiefItsunori Onodera.

This was a time when the two countries had important events that overlapped, as Tokyo began toLower House election campaign and Pyongyang celebrates Workers' Party founding anniversary.

"I understand that it is an important anniversary for North Korea. We want to maintain a state of emergency," Reuters quoted Mr. Onodera as saying yesterday.

Previously, South Korean national security adviserChung Eui-yong said North Korea may take provocative action between October 10 and October 18.North Korea often celebrates important events with weapons tests, including its fifth nuclear test on September 5 last year, on its National Day.

Recently, North Korea launched two missiles over Japan within two weeks, on August 29 and September 15, in response to the international community's reaction.Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said this is the time to put pressure on North Korea rather than dialogue, to force Pyongyang to end its nuclear and missile programs.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula are rising as the US president and North Korean leaders continue to harshly criticize each other and threaten military action.

According to VNE