Japan Deploys Patriot Missiles To Shoot Down North Korean Rockets

Following North Korea’s threat on Wednesday to fire ballistic missiles over Japan toward Guam, it was only a matter of time before Japan – which overnight said it has the authority to shoot down any such projectile above its territory – took appropriate steps, and according to the Nikkei, the Japanese government is starting to deploy Patriot missile interceptors in its western regions ahead of a North Korean launch.
The move comes after the North Korean military said it is developing a plan to fire intermediate-range missiles into waters 30km to 40km off the coast of Guam, and elaborated that the rockets would fly over parts of Japan and Patriot batteries would likely be positioned in those parts of Japan mentioned by North Korea. The KCNA report mentioned Shimane, Hiroshima and Kochi prefectures in the western regions of Chugoku and Shikoku. Shimane is the closest to North Korea, lying on the Sea of Japan. Kochi would represent the last big land area before the missiles reach the Pacific Ocean.

This post was published at Zero Hedge on Aug 10, 2017.