U.S. To Deploy Patriot Missiles In Japan

As North Korea prepares to test-launch a ballistic missile that may have the range to reach the U.S., it was announced that Patriot interceptor missiles will be deployed on American bases in Japan:

The U.S. plans to deploy the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles — designed to intercept ballistic missiles, cruise missiles or aircraft — as soon as possible, a Japanese Defense Agency spokeswoman.

This is just the latest step in the effort to pressure North Korea not to test-fire its Taepodong-2 missile.
The test launch would break the moratorium on such launches which has been in effect since 1999.

The U.S. has moved up a planned test of a missile-detecting radar system in northern Japan, Kyodo News agency reported, citing an unidentified U.S. official in Washington:

A test run of the high-resolution radar, capable of detecting incoming missiles, was initially scheduled to begin weeks later. However, Kyodo said testing could start as early as Monday.

[. . .]

The radar deployment is part of the joint missile defense project, which began after North Korea fired a missile, part of which flew over Japan, in 1998.

Last week japan and the U.S. signed an agreement to expand their cooperation on a joint ballistic missile defense shield, including joint production of interceptor missiles.

There has also been speculation that the U.S. might try to shoot down the Korean missile.

Comments

[Zack]

The Taepodong-2 missile with a range of up to 2200 kilometers (1300 miles) is an advance over the Taepodong-1 missile that was test fired in August 1998