Japan's new defense budget hits record amid N Korea missile threats

The Japanese Government on Friday approved a record-high defense budget of 5.19 trillion yen ($46 billion) to boost its missile ranges amid increasing threat from North Korea.

The defence spending is a part of 97.71 trillion yen ($862 billion) national budget plan for fiscal 2018.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government, which has strengthened Japan's defense capacities amid concerns over North Korea as well as China's maritime rise, has kept around 730 million yen aside in the budget to prepare for the introduction of the U.S.-developed land-based Aegis missile defense system.

This will add to Japan's existing missile shield, involving Aegis destroyers, equipped with Standard Missile-3 interceptors and the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptors deployed on the ground.

Japan has also allocated about 44 billion yen for the purchase of upgraded missile interceptors with an expanded range, altitude, and accuracy.

Some 4.7 billion yen was also secured to upgrade Japan's air defense command and control system to be better prepared for missiles launched simultaneously or on a highly lofted trajectory, a method North Korea has tested, Kyodo news agency reported.

The government has allocated 62.2 billion yen as related costs in a supplementary budget for the current fiscal year to expedite the schedule for purchasing the new Aegis Ashore system and other projects linked to missile defense.
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