Asdf Carries Out Anti - Missile Drill In Osaka
Japan's Air Self-Defense Force has carried out a drill in the western city of Osaka for deploying ground-based PAC-3 interceptor missiles.
The anti-missile drill took place in the Maishima seaside area on Thursday.
Six large vehicles arrived from a base in Mie Prefecture, central Japan. They were carrying radars and mobile launchers for the PAC-3 system.
ASDF members checked procedures to get the launchers ready and adjust radars and antennas. It took about 20 minutes.
The PAC-3 system is designed to intercept ballistic missiles if Aegis destroyers fail to shoot them down.
Near Osaka, PAC-3 missiles are deployed in bases in Shiga and Mie prefectures.
Since their range is just dozens of kilometers, they must be made ready beforehand near key facilities or where missiles are expected to fall. ASDF officials say they are conducting deployment drills across the country.
Thursday's drill comes as North Korea has repeatedly launched ballistic missiles this year.
US national security advisor Jake Sullivan has warned that Pyongyang may be preparing a launch of a long-range ballistic missile or a nuclear test to coincide with President Joe Biden's trip to South Korea and Japan this weekend.
Lieutenant Colonel Morinaga Tetsuya of the ASDF unit that carried out the drill says North Korea has been firing ballistic missiles at an unprecedented pace.
Morinaga says that regardless of the situation, the ASDF plans to continue drills so it can swiftly respond if the need arises.