A leading Japanese daily says the United States is considering deploying a land-based missile defense system to protect U.S. military bases in Japan from ballistic missile attacks.
Quoting Japanese and U.S. government sources Sunday, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper said Washington is considering deploying such a system before Japan completes its own missile shield system by the end of fiscal 2007. The reports added that the U.S. believes the deployment of an American missile defense system would benefit Japan as it also would protect the Tokyo metropolitan area during the intervening period.
The paper said the U.S. military is thinking of deploying the Patriot Advanced Capability 3, a U.S. Army surface-to-air guided missile that is capable of intercepting North Korean Rodong missiles, which have a range of about 1,300 kilometers.
The reports said the United States has unofficially relayed the suggestion to the Japanese government. Tokyo is expected to soon give its reply to such a plan.