Japan’s Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka has ordered the Japanese military to prepare a missile defense system ahead of a planned rocket launch by North Korea.

Tanaka told reporters on Friday that he ordered the military to be prepared to deploy surface-to-air anti-missile PAC3 and Aegis destroyers so that they could destroy the rocket if Japan deems it a national threat.

The minister added he is holding discussions with a relevant local province regarding the deployment preparations. Japan is reportedly considering mobilizing a Patriot Advanced Capability Three (PAC3) missile systems to Okinawa Prefecture.

Japanese officials earlier said that the trajectory of the rocket to be launched by North Korea could go over Okinawa.