Japan’s NHK says Tokyo has decided to introduce a land-based Aegis missile defense system in a bid to intercept North Korean ballistic missiles.
 
NHK said Thursday that Japan’s Defense Ministry has decided to introduce the “Aegis Ashore” system in a bid to boost its missile defense capabilities amid Pyongyang’s advancement in launching ballistic missiles. Under the Aegis Ashore system, land-based interceptor missiles will display the ability of Aegis destroyers.
 
The report said that the Defense Ministry included related costs in next year’s budget for the basic design in a bid to add the Aegis Ashore system to Japan’s missile defense shield.
 
The ministry also decided to move up the date for expanding the number of Aegis destroyers equipped with missile defense systems from four to five from the end of next March to within this year.

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