Patriot Advanced Capability 3 missile defense batteries are to be deployed throughout Japan in response to North Korea's recent nuclear and missile activities, the Qatar News Agency reported yesterday (see GSN, June 5).
Pyongyang's actions in recent months have increased "the level of the threat to Japanese security ... necessitating adequate measures on reinforcing [ballistic missile defenses]," the government stated (see related GSN story, today).
The Japanese Defense Ministry indicated it would lobby to fund the deployment in the nation's fiscal 2010 budget.
North Korean missiles are capable of traveling farther than 800 miles, placing most of Japan within their reach, according to Japanese experts who analyzed the results of Pyongyang's recent missile firings (see GSN, July 7).
Japan currently has PAC-3 systems deployed in its Chiba, Kanagawa, Ibaraki and Saitama prefectures, according to local media (Qatar News Agency, Aug. 16).