Japan Ready to Intercept Guam-Bound North Korean Missiles

Japan's Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said Thursday his country could strike down North Korean missiles fired toward the US island of Guam if they passed over the Japanese territory.

TOKYO (Sputnik) — "Japan is constantly maintaining readiness for any eventuality," the new defense minister said, according to the Kyodo news agency. He added Tokyo would invoke its right to collective self-defense to guarantee security of entire Japan.

North Korea’s state agency KCNA reported earlier in the day that its military planned to complete a plan by mid-August to hit waters off Guam with four medium-range missiles. It said they would fly over three Japanese prefectures.