Japan Would Not Use U.S.-Aided Missile Defense System to Protect Allies, Prime Minister Says

Japan would not use a missile defense system it is developing jointly with the United States to intercept missiles launched at other countries, including allies, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said today (see GSN, Feb. 22).

“The purpose of our country’s missile defense is to intercept incoming missiles targeting Japan,” Koizumi told the upper house of parliament, according to the Associated Press. “We are not thinking of dealing with other missiles targeting our allies” (Associated Press/Yahoo!News, March 18).

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