US offers Japan 80 Patriot missiles

TOKYO: The United States has offered Japan up to 80 more Patriot interceptor missiles following North Korea's rocket tests last month, a report said on Thursday.

Japan's Defence Agency intends to take up part of the offer as it accelerates the planned deployment of a missile defense system, the report said.

The agency had planned to build PAC-3 interceptor missiles under license by early 2010 but would now request $ 99.7 million from the national budget to buy them from the United States, the report said.

The US offer follows a written request from Defence Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga to US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld last month, it added.

Japan has been in a hurry to boost its missile defences since North Korea fired a rocket over the Japanese mainland into the Pacific Ocean in 1998, prompting Tokyo and Washington to step up cooperation in missile defences.

The pacifist nation vowed to step up its efforts after North Korea test-fired seven missiles in its direction on July 5, including one long-range Taepodong-2 which is said in theory to be capable of hitting US soil.