The United States may deploy a ship equipped with the advanced Aegis defense system and interceptor missiles at a U.S. naval base in Japan by next year, according to Japanese government sources.

The move would be aimed at protecting Japan and U.S. forces here from a potential attack involving North Korea's Nodong ballistic missiles, according to the sources.

Apart from deploying interceptor missiles on the U.S. mainland, Washington plans to equip three Aegis warships with Standard Missile-3 interceptor missiles between 2004 and 2005 to deter threats against the U.S. and its allies, the sources said.