The Japanese Defense Ministry is ‘halting’ plans to deploy Aegis Ashore missile defense system, Defense Minister Taro Kono told Journalists Monday, citing costs and technical problems.
The decision to halt the proposed deployment comes after residents of the city of Akita and Abu district of Yamaguchi Prefecture opposed setting up the Aegis Ashore system in their area. The residents were concerned about noise and radiation which they feared would come from the missile defence system.
The minister did not specify if ‘halting’ meant abandoning the $2.15 billion deal altogether which was approved by the US government in January 2019; or if it amounted to suspending the deal till an alternate site was found.
Japan; MoD suspends AEGIS Ashore deployment