Japan Suspends Aegis Ashore Deployment Plan
Japanese Defense Minister Kono Taro says the government will suspend a plan to deploy the land-based Aegis Ashore missile defense system in the country.
Kono told reporters on Monday that due to technical and financial challenges the plan to deploy the system was being halted.
One of the candidate sites for the US-made system is the Self-Defense Force's Mutsumi Maneuver Area in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan.
Kono said the government told local residents that it will ensure that the rocket booster of an interceptor missile launch will fall within the SDF base.
But talks with the US side led to the conclusion that software changes won't be enough to ensure this, and that the missile hardware needs to be modified.
He said that additional cost and time will be needed for modifications, if the plan does eventually move forward.
Kono added that the National Security Council will be notified of the decision and the government will discuss the matter.
The government had planned to deploy the system in Akita and Yamaguchi prefectures due to a series of ballistic missile test launches by North Korea in recent years.
Kono indicated that SDF vessels equipped with the sea-based Aegis system will respond to possible missile launches for the time being.
