As North Korea’s joint venture with the South appears to be, for all intents and purposes, shut down, Japan is responding to weeks of threats and bluster.  The Japanese Self Defense Force (SDF) is deploying Patriot Missile batteries in key positions around Tokyo to defend the 30 Million people who live in the Megalopolis.

Two Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) surface-to-air missile launchers were stationed at the Defense Ministry Headquarters in Tokyo in the predawn hours.  At least two more batteries will be placed elsewhere in Tokyo.  They're designed to shoot-down incoming missiles.

“The government is making utmost efforts to protect our people’s lives and ensure their safety,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters, “As North Korea keeps making provocative comments, Japan, cooperating with relevant countries, will do what we have to do.  For the moment, the most important thing is to implement sanctions under the UN Security Council resolutions.”

Meanwhile, 53,000 North Koreans failed to show up at work this morning.  They’re employees at the Kaesong Industrial Complex, a joint venture by North and South Korea until Pyongyang blocked the border crossing last week.

There are still a few hundred South Korean workers inside Kaesong, which is a major source of cash for Pyongyang.  South Korean companies pay workers more than A$77 Million a year to keep the factories going.