Japan is leaning toward reviewing its current plan to deploy the U.S.-developed Aegis Ashore land-based missile defense system in the northeastern city of Akita, due to strong local opposition, according to a government source.
If the government decides to give up its plan and looks for another candidate site, its goal of deploying the land-based defense system, aimed at countering the threat of North Korean missiles, as early as 2025 may be affected.
The plan to host the system at a Ground Self-Defense Force training area in Akita's Araya district has come under fire after the Defense Ministry's geographical survey used to select the candidate site was found to have contained errors.