TOKYO - A Japanese defense official said Thursday that a satellite image showed the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) raised a missile launcher in its east part, according to local media.

The official said the image was captured by a spy satellite Thursday morning, adding the raised launcher could also be an act of deception by the DPRK, reported Japan's Kyodo News Agency.

Japan keeps high alert and close cooperation on information gathering with the United States and?the Republic of?Korea over a possible ballistic missile launch by the DPRK.

In the context of DPRK's repeated provocation and hostile stance, the government "is making concerted efforts with a sense of tension", Kyodo cited Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as saying.

Yoshihide Suga, Japan's chief cabinet secretary, said at a press conference that the government takes every possible measure to protect lives and safety of Japanese people.

Japan has deployed missile interceptors in central Tokyo and dispatched warships equipped with interceptors to the Sea of Japan to shoot down any incoming DPRK's missiles.

Military analysts said the DPRK this time probably will launch multiple medium-range missiles at the same time.

The possible missile launches follow a series of actions by the DPRK to counteract joint US-ROK war games.

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