Japan confirms object launched by North Korea orbiting Earth

Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said Friday the government has confirmed that "some object" launched by North Korea is "orbiting the Earth," after Pyongyang launched what it said was a reconnaissance satellite earlier this week.Kihara told reporters that the latest assessment was made in collaboration with the United States and South Korea, but he refrained from commenting on whether the North's launch was successful.He added Japan will carefully analyze whether the object has been functioning as intended since its launch, which occurred about an hour before the start of a pre-notic…READ FULL ARTICLE