U.S. to Deploy Patriot Missiles In Japan to Counter North Korea
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
TOKYO, June 27 -- The Pentagon is reportedly speeding up plans to deploy advanced Patriot interceptor missiles on U.S. bases in Japan for the first time, a countermeasure seen as a response to the increasing threat of North Korean missiles.
In a May accord signed in Washington, the United States and Japan agreed in principle to put the interceptor system known as PAC-3 on U.S. bases here. But Japan's Yomiuri newspaper reported that the Pentagon made a proposal this month to deploy the system in Okinawa by year's end amid concerns that Pyongyang may be preparing to test-fire a long-range Taepodong-2 ballistic missile.
Japan's Defense Agency said the timing of the PAC-3 deployment was still being negotiated, and a Pentagon spokesman said the missiles have not been sent to Japan.
The planned PAC-3 deployment underscores concern that Japan is emerging as the nation most threatened by North Korean missiles. Reports of a possible test-firing of a Taepodong-2 have spurred Japan and the United States to take further steps in a joint effort to construct an effective missile-defense shield.
The U.S. Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles are designed to intercept ballistic missiles, cruise missiles or aircraft. But experts said it was unclear whether the PAC-3 system would be capable of shooting down the Taepodong-2.
