Japan Deploys Patriot Missiles to Protect Tokyo

Japan today bolstered its defences against a possible attack from North Korea with the deployment of an advanced Patriot missile defence system at a military base near Tokyo that critics say leaves the capital even more vulnerable to attack.

The arrival, a year ahead of schedule, of two Patriot Advanced Capability-3 [PAC-3] launchers at Iruma air base in Saitama, just north of Tokyo, was greeted by a small group of protesters.

Last month the US deployed its own Patriot missiles on Okinawa, where most of the 50,000 US troops in Japan are stationed.

Japan's new Patriot missiles would be used only if Standard Missile-3 interceptors fired from Aegis ships failed to knock out any incoming missile. The country's pacifist constitution means it can shoot down only missiles heading towards its own territory, not that of allies.

The race to develop missile defences followed North Korea's test-launch of a ballistic missile that flew over northern Japan in 1998. Officials speeded up their introduction after Pyongyang tested more ballistic missiles, as well as a nuclear device, last year.

Although progress has been made in international attempts to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear programme, Japan believes Tokyo and other big cities remain high on the communist state's list of possible targets.

"We consider it very meaningful to deploy the air defence missiles close to metropolitan Tokyo, which is the centre of business and political activities," said Kazumasa Echizen, head of public information at Iruma base. "We will continue our efforts to be ready for any possible emergencies."

PAC-3 interceptors are capable of shooting down incoming missiles as they near their target, giving the attacked country more time to prepare. But their range of about 12 miles means they must be situated close to potential targets, such as busy financial centres.

Opponents say the purpose of the Patriot system is to protect military facilities, including those used by US troops, and denounced today's arrival of the launchers as a "military performance".

"Bringing PAC-3s to places such as Iruma makes them the focus of interception strategy and therefore [puts them] at risk of becoming the target of attack by other countries," campaigners said in a statement.

By the end of the year Japan expects to equip one of its warships with an MS-3 interceptor capable of reaching incoming missiles earlier.

Preparing for the perceived North Korean threat is proving expensive, with spending on missile defence alone expected to rise by 30.5% to 182.6bn yen in the fiscal year 2007. Japan plans to have 30 PAC-3 launchers in place in 10 locations within the next four years.