Japan, US sign missile defense pact

TOKYO - Japan and the United States signed an agreement on Friday cementing cooperation on the development of a ballistic missile defense system.


The deal to exchange information on research, deployment and operations of a missile shield came one week after Japan eased the way by lifting a blanket ban on arms exports.


"Developing a missile defense is tough work, but my friend it is a noble challenge," US Ambassador Howard Baker said after signing the memorandum with Japanese Defense Minister Yoshinori Ohno. "We must rid ourselves of missile blackmail," Baker said.


Japan and the United States began the joint research on the next-generation missile defense system shortly after North Korea test-fired a missile that passed over Japan in 1998.


Separately, Japan decided last year to buy a missile defense system from the United States.


Experts say the system, to be partially deployed in 2007 and fully operational by 2011, will cost up to one trillion yen ($9.56 billion) over the next 10 years.


The Pentagon said on Wednesday that the first test of a planned multibillion-dollar US anti-missile shield in nearly two years had failed, with the interceptor missile shutting down on its launch pad in the central Pacific before it was launched.


Joint production would require that Japan export components to the United States, officials have said.


Proponents say such joint arms projects are vital to keep Japan's defense capabilities up to date at an affordable cost, while critics worry that cooperation on the shield could tarnish Japan's postwar pacifist image and unsettle its Asian neighbors.
Reuters/abs-cbnNEWS.com

I think this wil benefit the U.S. as much as Japan actually.

who we nuking? ahah jus kiddin

I think you are correct.
Some other Asian countries are not going to like this idea though.

This gives Japan an shield when US go to war with the NKs.
Only NKs are a threat to Japan(a very small one.).

I disagree. Missle defense is very unreliable. I don't even think that 40%. Japan is better off saving the money. There is only one real nuclear defense and this isn't it.