Japan seeks to initiate 24 hour missile defense system

Japan seeks to initiate 24 hour missile defense system. August. 06, 2016 07:03. by 도쿄=서영아특파원 sya@donga.com.

As a ballistic missile that North Korea launched on Wednesday fell into Japan's exclusive economic zone, the Japanese government is reviewing a plan to execute a 24 hour missile defense system, according to NHK on Friday. Tokyo used to issue an order to shoot down missiles when North Korean missile launchers showed suspicious movements and cancel the order when the suspicion is cleared. But this time, Japan has decided to stay on the defense mode at all times.

Some speculate that Japan will accelerate the THAAD deployment due to North Korea's provocation. The U.S. and Japan will work on doubling the number of PAC-3, a ground-to-air antiballistic missile, within the current 30-km area.

Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada stated on Thursday, "In order to improve Japan's defense system, we will strengthen our ability to promptly, simultaneously, and continuously respond to threats." In a press interview with the Sankei Newspaper, the minister said, "We will do our best to increase next year's budget for the project. It is very important that Japan and South Korea cooperate." She became the defense minister at Japan's cabinet shuffle held on Wednesday.

The Rodong missile that North Korea launched on Wednesday fell into Japan's EEZ 250 kilometers west from the Oga Peninsula, Akita Province but the Japanese government could not do anything until it fell because it failed to detect the launch. Japan's public broadcaster NHK quoted the Japanese government as saying, "North Korea used a mobile launch pad making it difficult to detect. The previous ballistic missiles could have been launched by those mobile launchers."