SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Japan strongly protested North Korea's planned rocket launch, warning Friday it could shoot it down after the North said it would fly over Japan and designated a "danger" zone off the country's coast

In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura told North Korea to abandon the launch and said Japan was ready to defend itself.

"Legally speaking, if this object falls toward Japan, we can shoot it down for safety reasons," he said.

North Korea threatens full scale war if rocket is intercepted


North Korea says it will wage war on America, Japan and South Korea if any attempt is made to intercept the launch of a rocket it claims is intended to put a satellite into space