Japan eases DPRK missile alert system: Report

World
Europe

Japan has lowered its military readiness level against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) missiles as Washington embarks on delicate nuclear negotiations with Pyongyang, a report said on Sunday, citing multiple unnamed sources close to the matter.

The report came as Japan finds itself under pressure to soften its hardline stance against Pyongyang following US President Donald Trump's landmark summit with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un last month.

Japan's Self Defense Forces on Friday dropped their program to always deploy Aegis warships in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) that detect and intercept incoming missiles, the Asahi Shimbun reported.

US President Donald Trump meets with the leader of Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un at Singapore's Capella Hotel on June 12, 2018./VCG Photo

But Japanese forces will remain ready to intercept missiles detected via spy satellite images, the newspaper said.

Japanese defense officials told the Asahi that Tokyo was following in the footsteps of the United States, which has already lowered its alert level in the Indo-Pacific region. Japan has also suspended public evacuation drills simulating a DPRK missile attack.

Japanese defense ministry officials were not available for immediate comment.

Japan has long maintained a tight-lipped stance about its exact defense posture against the DPRK, including the locations of the high-tech Aegis vessels.

As concern has grown in Tokyo about Japan being left on the sidelines in the diplomatic negotiations with the DPRK, hawkish Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last month said that his government has approached Pyongyang to arrange a summit with Kim.

(Cover: File photo of the US Aegis guided missile destroyer Curtis Wilbur, deployed in the Sea of Japan)

Source(s): AFP