Japan defense chief Taro Kono tours Aegis missile defense test site in Hawaii
Defense Minister Taro Kono on Monday visited a test complex of a U.S.-developed land-based missile defense system in Hawaii amid a stalemate over its introduction to Japan, with candidate sites angered by errors in government surveys used to select the locations. Vice Adm. John Hill, ...
Yamaguchi site still a candidate for Aegis missile defense system, Japan Defense Ministry says
A ministry report concluded the SDF’s Mutsumi training area was the “only suitable place among state-owned lands to meet requirements” for deploying the system in the area.
After errors in Akita plan, Japan may pick new site for U.S.-developed missile defense system
The government leans toward reviewing its current plan to deploy the U.S.-developed Aegis Ashore land-based missile defense system in the city of Akita due to strong local opposition.
As defense chief, Taro Kono faces test to prove himself as potential successor to Shinzo Abe
Having been handed the defense portfolio in the Sept. 11 Cabinet reshuffle, Defense Minister Taro Kono is now under a spotlight as observers watch for him to prove his credentials as a potential successor to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Formerly foreign minister, Kono is now ...
Abe's plan for U.S. Aegis Ashore missile shield rattles Akita residents
The sleepy neighborhood of Araya in the city of Akita seemed like the perfect place for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to put a U.S. anti-missile system. The area has reliably backed the ruling party and has firsthand experience of a North Korean rocket flying ...
Japan's Defense Ministry to redo surveys for Aegis Ashore deployment after flawed data revealed
The Defense Ministry presented a detailed plan on Wednesday for new surveys at candidate sites for the deployment of the Aegis Ashore land-based missile defense system. The new surveys are being conducted because the ministry used flawed data when giving explanations to a local government ...
U.S. test of previously banned missile raises fears of new nuclear arms race
The U.S. military has conducted a flight test of a type of missile banned for more than 30 years, under a treaty from which it bolted earlier this month, the Pentagon said Monday, in a move experts said was likely to have been closely ...
Independent candidate opposed to Aegis Ashore missile defense system deployment wins seat in Akita
An independent candidate opposed to the central government's plan to deploy a U.S.-developed missile defense system in Akita Prefecture defeated the ruling party incumbent in the Akita district in Sunday's Upper House election. Shizuka Terata, 40, was jointly fielded by the main opposition forces in ...
Japan will provide U.S. forces with information obtained from planned Aegis Ashore ground-based missile defense systems when necessary, Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya said at a news conference Tuesday. The comment suggests there is a possibility that the Aegis Ashore systems would serve as a radar ...
Defense chief apologizes to Yamaguchi governor for faulty Aegis survey
Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya apologized Wednesday to Yamaguchi Gov. Tsugumasa Muraoka over a mistake in a geographical survey conducted by the ministry that was used to select the prefecture as a candidate site for a U.S.-developed missile defense system. "We'll conduct the survey again and ...
Japan Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya apologizes over errors in Aegis deployment survey
The apology comes a week after the governor of Akita Prefecture criticized the ministry’s erroneous survey in connection with the deployment of the land-based Aegis Ashore missile defense system.
Akita governor blasts Defense Ministry over missile defense system survey errors
Akita Gov. Norihisa Satake criticized the Defense Ministry on Monday for making errors in the geographical survey that was used to select the prefecture as a candidate for hosting Aegis Ashore missile launchers. A ministry official was also caught snoozing when local residents were briefed ...
