Defense Agency chief Shigeru Ishiba refused Friday to rule out the possibility of Japan deploying the Patriot PAC-3, the latest version of the U.S.-developed air-defense missile system.
"The issue should be discussed from the viewpoint of what the nation's missile defense should be, which includes cost-effectiveness as well as how to position it in our self-defense policy and what will be most suitable (as a missile defense system)," Ishiba told a regular news conference.
He added that concrete debate has not yet begun over the possible deployment of the Patriot PAC-3, touted by some in the ruling coalition as a means of defending the nation against possible ballistic missile attacks from North Korea.