Amid heightened tensions over North Korea, the Liberal Democratic Party has stepped up calls to boost Japan's missile defense in what some experts see as a move to gauge reaction from the public and regional powers, including the United States, about the potential adoption of strike capability.

Despite an agreement between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a two-day meeting in Florida through Friday to step up coordination on reining in North Korea, uncertainty persists that Pyongyang may push ahead with a sixth nuclear test and keep test-launching ballistic missiles in an effort to improve its nuclear and missile programs.

The LDP has proposed introducing the advanced U.S. missile defense system known as the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and other state-of-the-art military assets, as well as acquiring the ability to strike an enemy base, such as with cruise missiles.