In a new interpretation of Japan’s Constitution, the Japanese Defense Agency said the country is allowed to intercept ballistic missiles that fly over its territory, including those that might not be targeting Japan, the Japan Times reported today (see GSN, June 13).

Officials at the Defense Agency said yesterday that intercepting a missile over Japan would not violate the constitution’s ban on collective defense.  If Japan implements a missile defense system, it cannot be used to help defend another country, the Japan Times reported.  However, a missile flying over Japan could accidentally fall short and hit the country, justifying an intercept (Japan Times, June 23).

Japan has decided to put fiscal 2004 money toward a two-layered missile defense system, the Daily Yomiuri reported today.  The plan would involve Patriot Advanced Capability 3 missiles and Standard Missile 3 missiles, according to Japanese officials.

The system — seen by some Japanese officials as the only effective means to respond to the threat of North Korean ballistic missiles — still faces legal and technical hurdles, according to the Daily Yomiuri (Michio Hayashi, Daily Yomiuri, June 23).

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