Japan, U S to deploy missile interceptors -Kyodo

TOKYO, July 13 (Reuters) Japan and the United States, concerned about North Korea's missile capabilities, plan to deploy advanced missile interceptors as early as this summer at a US base in Japan, Kyodo news service said today.

A total of 24 launching pads for the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 surface-to-air interceptors will be installed at the US Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, southern Japan. It is the first deployment of such a weapons system at a US base in Japan, the report said, citing Japanese government sources.

The PAC-3s, the US military's state-of-the-art, ground-based missile interceptors, are designed to shoot down incoming missiles before they reach their targets.

A US forces official in Japan reached late today said no one was available to comment.

Japan and the United States had agreed in May to deploy the PAC-3 missile interceptors at US military facilities in Japan as soon as possible, in talks on the realignment of US military forces in Japan, Kyodo said.

Anxieties in the region increased markedly last week when North Korea test-fired seven missiles, including a long-range Taepodong-2 missile, setting off a flurry of diplomatic efforts.

REUTERS SHB BST2028