NHK World:

Defense authorities in Japan say they will hold computer simulated drills with the United States this month to intercept ballistic missiles. The joint staff chief of the Self-Defense Forces, Katsutoshi Kawano, announced the plan on Thursday.

Kawano said the SDF and US forces will carry out the drills on Friday and for 4 days from next Tuesday by linking bases in Japan via computers. Crews on board Aegis destroyers of the Maritime Self-Defense Force and the US Navy will take part. They will be joined by Air Self-Defense Force units in charge of land-based PAC-3 interceptor missiles.

Kawano said they will use a simulated scenario that ballistic missiles have been launched and are heading toward Japan. He said they will track the missile trajectories and intercept them on computers, without using live ammunition.