US steps up missile defences

2006-06-26 08:43

Tokyo - Japan and the United States have agreed to deploy advanced Patriot interceptor missiles on US bases in Japan for the first time, officials said on Monday, amid concerns North Korea may test-fire a long-range ballistic missile.

The two sides reached the accord earlier this month and intend to install the weapons as early as possible, a Defence Agency spokesperson said on condition of anonymity.

The plan will put Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles - designed to intercept ballistic missiles, cruise missiles or enemy aircraft - on US bases in Japan for the first time.

The Defence Agency spokesperson said sites and timing for the deployment have not yet been decided.

Extra troops

But a local newspaper reported the US military would deploy three or four of the surface-to-air missiles on the southern island of Okinawa by the end of the year and send an additional 500 to 600 US troops there.

The plan was proposed by US officials during a June 17 meeting in Hawaii, Japan's largest newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported, quoting unidentified government officials.

The two countries signed an agreement in 2005 allowing Japan to produce PAC-3 missiles for deployment during fiscal 2006 at Japanese bases, but the plan to deploy them on US bases is apparently separate.

North Korea fears

Recent intelligence reports that indicate North Korea may be fuelling a missile at a launch site on the country's north-eastern coast have sparked concerns Pyongyang may test-fire a Taepodong-2 missile within days.

The concerns have prompted the US to move up its planned test of a missile-detecting radar system in northern Japan, Kyodo News agency reported, citing an unidentified US official in Washington.

Joint ballistic missile defence shield

Tokyo and Washington on Friday also signed an agreement to expand their co-operation on a joint ballistic missile defence shield, committing themselves to joint production of interceptor missiles.

That agreement had been previously negotiated and was not triggered by emerging fears of a possible North Korean missile test, officials said. There has been speculation that the US could try to intercept the missile if it is fired.

Japan and the US agreed in April agreed to shift 8 000 US Marines from Okinawa to the US Pacific island territory of Guam as part of a sweeping realignment of US troops that would also give Japan greater responsibility for regional security and reduce burden of Okinawa, where nearly half of 50 000 US troops in Japan are based.

- AP