TOKYO -- Japan has strengthened its defenses against a potential missile attack by North Korea, with Defense Minister Gen Nakatani giving the Self-Defense Forces the green light to shoot down such a missile.
The government has not publicly acknowledged whether Nakatani has issued the order, citing security reasons. The SDF has sent ships equipped with the Aegis combat system and the Standard Missile-3 to waters around Japan, while Defense Ministry facilities in the Ichigaya area of Tokyo are preparing Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles for interception from the ground.
