Japan has canceled an order issued in March to the Self-Defense Forces to intercept incoming North Korean missiles, government sources said.
In response, the SDF began pulling out interceptors, including the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 surface-to-air guided interceptors deployed on the premises of the Defense Ministry headquarters in central Tokyo, they said.
The government canceled the order, issued March 16 by Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, apparently because it now sees no immediate danger of incoming missiles, after consulting with the United States and South Korea, the sources said Wednesday.