Japanese military has deployed two Patriot missile interceptors in Tokyo, deployment comes amid reports of North Korea’s space rocket launch.
According to the Japan News website, two ground-to-air Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) launchers were installed near the Defense Ministry’s headquarters. The Defense Ministry said that they had been set-up as a safeguard to shoot down a North Korean missile if necessary.
The Patriot missile were placed in the Okinawa Prefecture and Tokyo metropolitan area, the two possible locations that the North Korean missile might hit.
PAC3 missiles have been deployed again at the SDF HQ in Ichigaya. pic.twitter.com/MyCSVJl3Do
— Mulboyne (@Mulboyne) January 30, 2016
Earlier this week Japan’s Defense Minister, General Nakatani, issued a “destructive measures order,” that authorizes Japanese armed forces to intercept long-range ballistic missiles if they pose any danger to Japan.
Japan’s Marine Self-Defense Force is also on alert, deploying Aegis-equipped destroyers on Japanese seas, Japan news reported.
“We cannot rule out the possibility [North Korea] will do something provocative without prior warning, such as launching a ballistic missile. The government’s readiness will be rock-solid to protect the people’s lives,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said in a press conference.
North Korea has been closely watched by the international community since they claimed a successful detonation of a hydrogen bomb as its fourth nuclear test. -John Esconde
