On Tuesday, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) said it had received North Korea’s notification of plans to launch a satellite between February 8 and 25, with dates later changed to February 7 and 25.
North Korea's Kwangmyongsong satellite launch has sparked concern in Japan and South Korea, with South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok previously saying that Seoul would consider any of Pyongyang’s satellite launches as a ballistic missile test.
The JDS Kirishima was deployed in March 2012 in response to North Korea's failed launch of the Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite, which was also alleged to be a missile test.
Tensions over North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs escalated after Pyongyang said on January 6 that it had successfully carried out a hydrogen bomb test, triggering condemnation from the international community.
