Three Aegis destroyers of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force left their bases on Saturday for the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan to cope with North Korea's planned satellite launch widely believed to be a test of a ballistic missile. 

Two Aegis destroyers, the Kirishima and the Chokai, left the Sasebo base in southwestern Japan along with two destroyers, for their possible deployment in an area near the missile's likely course. Also, the Aegis destroyer Myoko left the Maizuru base in western Japan for the Sea of Japan. The destroyers track the missile with their radar systems. If the missile is projected to fall in Japanese territory or waters, they will shoot it down in outer space with the Standard Missile-3 interceptors.