After Japan's transport ministry ordered airlines and shipping companies operating in the area to take precautionary measures, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways said they would alter flight paths on several European and other routes.

Speculation has been mounting for weeks that North Korea was about to put its hitherto unreliable missile technology to the test. The regime suffered a setback in 2006 when a Taepodong-2 missile – theoretically capable of reaching Alaska – blew up moments into its flight.

• Pyongyang says response would be act of war
• Regional tensions rise over missile launch

In response, Japan and the US have jointly developed a ballistic missile defence system that includes interceptor missiles on board ships and Patriot missiles dotted around Tokyo.

But experts believe that a rocket capable of launching a satellite into orbit may be too high to intercept.

Missle Defense - that sounds like a good idea so you have some options instead of just bending over for the bad guys.

Would be nice if our idiot President didn't want to just stop it in its tracks because he hates anything that came from Ronald Reagan.

stop it in its tracks because he hates anything that came from Ronald Reagan
. . and because he's soooo "Metro"