NHK World:
The US Defense Department plans to test the feasibility of using a new interceptor missile that it jointly developed with Japan to shoot down intercontinental ballistic missiles.
The Defense Department said on Tuesday that it plans to carry out the test next year using the Standard Missile-3 Block IIA.
The missile has been repeatedly tested off Hawaii to intercept medium-range missiles. But it was not designed to hit ICBMs.
Japan and the United States jointly developed the interceptor to enhance their defense capabilities against North Korea’s ballistic missiles.
The Pentagon warned in its new missile defense strategy in January that Pyongyang was close to acquiring an ICBM.
