Japan to start development of land attack cruise missile

A report by the Yomiuri Shimbun on Nov. 20 says Tokyo intends to start work on a new land attack cruise missile.

JASDF ASM-2 Dummy
By Hunini (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

The new missile will also have an anti-ship capability and can be launch from air, ground and surface ships. The range is greater than 300 km.

The paper said the new missile is to help Japan defend its islands from Chinese intrusion but the weapon could be used against North Korea as well.