Japanese ships,planes monitor North Korea missile

TOKYO, June 22 (Reuters) Japan has mobilised naval vessels and aircraft to gather information following reports North Korea could test-fire a long-range ballistic missile, defence minister Fukushiro Nukaga said today.

The United States says there is evidence North Korea might test-fire its Taepodong-2 missile and has activated a ground-based interceptor missile-defence system in case Pyongyang goes ahead.

''We have mobilised ships and planes to collect information, and therefore we want the public to feel secured,'' Nukaga told a parliamentary panel, according to a defence ministry spokeswoman.

He declined to elaborate on where and how many ships and planes have been deployed.

Pentagon officials declined to say whether they would try to shoot down any missile, but other US officials have said that is unlikely given the launch is probably aimed at the open sea.

Pyongyang shocked the world in 1998 when it fired a missile, part of which flew over Japan and landed in the Pacific Ocean.

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