The Japanese government is reportedly planning to order its military to shoot down any ballistic missile flying toward Japan or its waters.

Japanese media said the government is likely to issue the order on Friday during a security meeting presided over by the prime minister.

The media added that top related ministers, including Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura and Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, will meet in an emergency meeting Wednesday to fine-tune views on the orders to destroy North Korean missiles.

Japan reportedly plans to dispatch two Aegis destroyers equipped with Standard Missile-3 interceptor systems to the East Sea and transport ground-based Patriot missiles to its northern regions.

North Korea announced earlier this month that it will launch a communications satellite between April fourth and eighth. South Korea, the United States and Japan suspect the purported satellite launch is a cover for a long-range missile test.