Jun 14 (NHK) - Japan's government will begin drills on Thursday for deploying ground-based PAC3 interceptors in view of North Korea's recent missile launches.
Defense Minister Tomomi Inada announced the plan on Tuesday. Officials of her ministry say the exercises will be conducted at 4 bases and posts across Japan.
They say Self-Defense Force units will transport, assemble and prepare to use PAC3 launchers. They say no real missiles will be fired.
The Air Self-Defense Force has held similar drills, but this is the first time since October 2013 that such plans have been made public.
Inada said improving the SDF's tactical skills for dealing with ballistic missiles is important because Pyongyang has carried out a series of launches.
Source: ANNnewsCH
