Japan is reportedly planning to deploy two Aegis-equipped destroyers carrying interceptor missiles to the East Sea to prepare for a possible North Korean missile launch.

Kyodo News on Wednesday quoted a Defense Ministry official as saying that Japan would have no other choice but to attempt to intercept, referring to a scenario in which the North launches a missile or a rocket capable of reaching Japan.

According to the report, Japan is considering sending two of its six Aegis-equipped destroyers, complete with Standard Missile-Three (SM-3) anti-ballistic missiles, as a precautionary measure in cooperation with the U.S. military.

Kyodo said the Standard Missile-Three interceptor launched from an Aegis destroyer covers the upper range of a missile shield and is designed to intercept incoming missiles outside of the earth's atmosphere.