Japan to Speed Missile Defense Deployment

Japan on Friday announced that it would move up the projected deployment date for three Patriot Advanced Capability 3 surface-to-air antimissile batteries to late next year, The Daily Yomiuri reported (see GSN, July 5).

Tokyo had planned to deploy the defenses by the end of March 2008, but missile launches by North Korea last week caused Japanese officials to revise that schedule, sources said.

The Defense Agency plans to deploy the first battery by the end of this fiscal year, the Yomiuri reported (The Daily Yomiuri, July 8).

Meanwhile, the USS Mustin, a U.S. Navy destroyer equipped with Aegis missile-tracking radar, arrived Saturday at a base near Tokyo, United Press International reported.

Seven other vessels equipped with the system have been redeployed to the base in Yokosuka, Kyodo News reported.

The cruiser USS Shiloh is expected to arrive next month, according to UPI (United Press International/Taiwan Sun, July 8).

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