The Japanese government is moving towards making a decision whether to allow the U.S. to deploy its THAAD air defense system in the country.
The Yomiuri Shimbun says a panel will be set up by the government to explore the issue while Defense Minister Tomomi Inada will soon travel to Guam to inspect the THAAD system deployed there.
Tokyo currently relies on a two-tier ballistic missile defense system to defend itself against any potential ballistic missile threat coming from North Korea. Having the THAAD will expand it to a three-tier system that covers gaps unfilled by the SM-3 and PAC3.