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Japanese Plans: Top Official Wants Increased Missile Defense Capability Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba yesterday urged Japan to expand its missile defense capabilities because of concerns of a possible North Korean missile strike, the New York Times reported (see GSN, April 4). Japan is interested in purchasing the latest version of the Patriot interceptor from the United States, Ishiba said. He noted the growing threat of a missile attack by North Korea, which currently has about 100 Rodong ballistic missiles capable of hitting any target within Japan within 10 minutes of launch, according to the Times. “They are not obtaining missiles just for a joke, just for play,” Ishiba said. “We have to say it is a serious threat to our country,” he added. Of all the countries in the region, Japan is the most likely target of a North Korean missile attack, prompting the need for better antimissile defenses, Ishiba said. “North Korea’s missiles will not be launched against China,” Ishiba said. “They won’t be launched against Russia. They won’t be launched against South Korea, because it’s too close. They can’t reach the United States,” he added (James Brooke, New York Times, April 17).
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