Japan Buys US Missiles In Attempt To Combat North Korea Threat

Japan's cabinet has approved a plan to buy land-based missile combat systems from the US.

The purchase is intended to increase its defence capabilities amid escalating threats from North Korea.

The approval will allow the Defence Ministry to buy two Aegis Ashore systems to add to Japan's current two-step missile defence system.

A statement issued by the cabinet said:

"North Korea's nuclear and missile development has become a greater and more imminent threat for Japan's national security, and we need to drastically improve our ballistic missile defence capability to protect Japan continuously and sustainably”.

The deployment will add to growing defence costs in Japan as prime minister Shinzo Abe's government pushes to boost defence capability.

Defence officials say two Aegis Ashore units would cost around 200 billion yen (£1.3 billion), though they have not released exact figures.

Mr Abe has said he fully backs US President Donald Trump's policy of keeping all options on the table, including possible military action, against the North.

The Japanese leader has vowed to bolster security co-operation and increase use of advanced US missile defence equipment.

Defence officials said they chose Aegis Ashore over an option of Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence, or THAAD, because of its cheaper cost and versatility.

Typically, a THAAD set-up comes with 48 missiles and nine mobile launch pads, priced about $1.1 billion (£820 million), and Japan would need at least six to defend the country, officials said.

The deployment of THAAD in South Korea triggered protests from China as Beijing sees it a security threat.

Aegis Ashore can be compatible with the ship-based Aegis systems that are on four Japanese destroyers and also could work with SM-6 interceptors capable of shooting down cruise missiles, defence officials said.

Japan plans to add four more Aegis-equipped destroyers in coming years.

The US has installed the land-fixed Aegis in Romania and Poland, and Japan will be a third to host the system.