Preoccupation with the Iraq issue, the Diet election and a lack of consensus within the Defense Agency are delaying the process for formal government approval of the missile defense system.

In late August, the agency said it would seek 142.3 billion yen for a missile defense system in its fiscal 2004 budget request. Agency officials promised, however, that a series of National Security Council meetings would be held before the request is formally adopted.

But there is no indication that these meetings will be held anytime soon, and the yearend deadline for the government to finalize the draft budget for the next fiscal year is fast approaching.