Japan Deploys Patriot Missiles at 3 Bases to Counter N Korean Threat

Japan has deployed Patriot surface-to-air missile systems at three of its military bases to counter a perceived threat from North Korea, Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Tuesday.

TOKYO (Sputnik) – On Thursday, Japanese media, citing government officials reported that Pyongyang was preparing for missile launch.

"We have deployed PAC-3 at the Ichigaya area of Tokyo as well as at the [military] Asaka and Narashino bases," Nakatani told reporters.

He added that despite the fact that Pyongyang had not made known its missile launch plans, such actions from North Korean could not be ruled out.

Tensions around North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs escalated on January 6, when Pyongyang announced that it had successfully carried out a hydrogen bomb test, which triggered a wave of condemnation from the international community.