This comes amid growing concern that the North may be about to launch a missile test. 

 

Pyongyang has been making bellicose（好战的） threats against South Korea, Japan and US bases in the region. 

 

Japan has deployed³ defensive⁴ anti-missile batteries at three locations in Tokyo, to protect the capital's 30 million residents.

 

US-made Patriot⁵ anti-missile systems have been deployed at the defence ministry⁶ and at two other military bases.

 

"The government is making utmost efforts to protect our people's lives and ensure their safety," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said.

 

At the end of last week Japan sent two of its most modern warships⁷ to the Sea of Japan with orders to shoot down any missiles fired by North Korea towards the Japanese islands.

 

Intelligence reports also suggest North Korea has moved two intermediate range missiles to its east coast in recent days. 

 

BBC Tokyo correspondent Rupert Wingfield-Hayes say no-one in Japan thinks Pyongyang is really preparing to attack. 

 

But it may try to fire a missile over the top of Japan in to the Pacific Ocean. If it does Tokyo has made it clear it will shoot the missile down. 

 

This is not the first time that Japan has taken such measures.

点击收听单词发音