TOKYO - Japan on Tuesday extended the period for a defense minister order issued to intercept a North Korean rocket in the event it heads toward Japanese territory, a step taken to match North Korea's extension of its launch window by one week.

The move came as the Japanese government and the Self-Defense Forces remained on alert on the second day of the launch period despite no sign of firing during the five-hour daily launch window between 7 a.m. and noon set by North Korea.