VOANews

Tokyo Prepares Long-Range Missile Test to Counter North Korean Missile Test

By Jason Strother
Tokyo
03 March 2009

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North Korea is believed to be preparing to test-fire a long-range missile, and Japanese media reports Tokyo is preparing to counter the possible rocket launch.

The Kyodo News Agency, citing sources from the Japanese Ministry of Defense, reports Japan will dispatch two Aegis equipped destroyers into the Sea of Japan that could potentially shoot-down missiles launched by North Korea.

Japan's government has not confirmed this report.

For the past few weeks, Japanese, South Korean and American intelligence agencies have been closely watching activity at a rocket launch pad on North Korea's east coast.