Japan's missile shield deployment scuppered by local resistance

Tokyo looks at alternative Aegis Ashore sites as North Korean threat looms

Members of Japan's Self-Defense Forces stand by land-to-air missiles in Tokyo. Japan is boosting its missile defenses to protect itself from a potential strike by North Korea. © Reuters

MASAYA KATO, Nikkei staff writer

May 7, 2020 00:43 JST

TOKYO -- Japan has scrapped plans to deploy the Aegis Ashore land-based missile defense system at a base on the Sea of Japan coast due to heavy local opposition.

Tokyo intends to install the U.S.-developed system at two locations in response to continued missile testing by North Korea. The government chose the Ground Self-Defense Force's Araya training area in Akita Prefecture as a candidate site in May 2019, but the survey used to make the decision was found to contain errors.