Japan launches satellite to watch for North Korean missiles

An H2A rocket is lifted from the launch pad at Tanegashima Space Centre in Kagoshima, southern Japan, on Friday (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan has launched a rocket carrying a government intelligence-gathering satellite on a mission to watch movements at military sites in North Korea and improve responses to natural disasters.

The H2A rocket, launched by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Centre in southwestern Japan on Friday, carrying the optical satellite as part of Tokyo’s reconnaissance effort to rapidly build up its military capability.