Japan and the United States, facing North Korea's apparent plans to
test-launch a long-range missile, have agreed to deploy advanced Patriot
interceptor missiles on American bases in Japan for the first time, officials
said Monday.
![**FILE PHOTO** U.S. troops of 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade stand in front of Patriot missile during the Arrival Ceremony of the brigade soldiers at Osan Air Force Base in Osan, south of Seoul, Dec. 10, 2004. [AP]](xin_430603262001106322623.jpg)
U.S. troops of 35th Air Defense Artillery
Brigade stand in front of Patriot missile during the Arrival Ceremony of
the brigade soldiers at Osan Air Force Base in Osan, south of Seoul, Dec.
10, 2004. [AP/File] |
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.
The spokeswoman, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with agency
policy, said the sites and exact timing for the deployment have not yet been
decided.
The plan was first reported Monday in Japan's largest newspaper Yomiuri
Shimbun. It said the U.S. military would deploy three or four batteries of the
surface-to-air missiles on the southern island of Okinawa by the end of the year
and send 500-600 additional U.S. troops there.
Up to 16 missiles can fit in a single PAC-3 battery, according to the
system's manufacturer, Lockheed Martin Corp.
The plan was proposed by U.S. officials during a June 17 meeting in Hawaii,
the newspaper said.
Japan and the U.S. signed an agreement in 2005 allowing Japan to produce
PAC-3 missiles for deployment during fiscal 2006 at Japanese bases. But the
deployment plans for Okinawa are apparently separate from that deal.
Recent intelligence reports indicate North Korea may be preparing to
test-fire a Taepodong-2, one of its most advanced missiles believed capable of
reaching parts of the U.S.
The North had maintained a self-imposed moratorium on such launches since
1999. The United States, Japan and other countries have urged North Korea to
halt any plans to test the missile, while Pyongyang has insisted it has the
right to do so if it chooses.
It was unclear whether the PAC-3 would be effective in the current standoff.
The PAC-3 is aimed at complementing the Standard Missile-3 installed on vessels
equipped with an Aegis radar system. But PAC-3, a medium- to long-range
interceptor, may be unable to shoot down long-range missiles such as
Taepodong-2, Yomiuri reported.
