The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Tokyo

Japan on Wednesday deployed its third ballistic missile defence system in the Tokyo area as the pacifist nation beefs up its military capability in the face of North Korea and China.

Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) surface-to-air interceptors were installed at a Japanese air force base in Yokosuka, also home to a major US naval base, a defence ministry spokesman said.

"The system was deployed today," he said, without disclosing details.

The ministry set up two other Patriot systems last year around Tokyo. It plans another by the end of March to complete a four-part missile defence system protecting Tokyo, he said.

The ministry plans to deploy the US-developed PAC-3s at a total of 11 bases in eastern and western Japan by March 2011.

Japan and the United States started working on a more advanced missile shield after North Korea fired a missile over Japan's main island in 1998.