Cabinet approves purchase of two Aegis Ashore land-based interceptors in face of ‘imminent’ national security threat
Japan is to boost its ability to counter the “serious and imminent” threat posed by North Korea’s ballistic missiles with the deployment of ground-based interceptors bought from the US.
The defence ministry will buy two Aegis Ashore land-based systems to add to its SM-3 guided missiles launched by Aegis-equipped destroyers and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles.
The cabinet said it had taken Tuesday’s decision to approve the expensive hardware in response to growing threats.
“North Korea’s nuclear and missile development has become a greater and more imminent threat for Japan’s national security, and we need to drastically improve our ballistic missile defence capability to protect Japan continuously and sustainably,” a cabinet statement said.
North Korea test-launched two ballistic missiles over Japanese territory this year, sparking text alerts warning millions in the north of the country to take cover .
“North Korea’s nuclear missile development poses a new level of threat to Japan and as we have done in the past we will ensure that we are able to defend ourselves with a drastic improvement in ballistic missile defence,” Itsunori Onodera, the defence minister, said.
Last month, North Korea tested an intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-15, it claims can strike US cities, although experts have questioned whether a missile carrying a nuclear payload, and flying on a standard trajectory, would be capable of covering that distance.
