Japanese Government to Review New Missile Defence Proposal After Scrapping US Aegis Ashore

TOKYO (Sputnik) - An expert council of Japan's governing Liberal Democratic Party will submit a proposal to the government on Tuesday to consider the possibilities of how to halt ballistic missile attacks within enemy territory, Japan's NHK reports.

The proposal comes in the wake of Japan scrapping the deployment of the US Aegis Ashore Ballistic Missile Defence systems on its territory. The expert council is expected to ask the Japanese government to search for alternative ways to ensure security.

The recommendations are expected to be discussed by Japan's National Security Council.

Aegis Ashore Weapon System

CC BY 2.0 / U.S. Missile Defense Agency / Aegis Ashore

In June, Japan abandoned plans to deploy American Aegis Ashore land-based missile defence systems, which were expected to counter the "threat" from North Korea. Defence Minister Taro Kono said that the decision was made in part because of the risk of rocket boosters falling on residential areas.