Japan will conduct its first test of land-to-air missile interceptors in the United States in the coming months, an official said Friday.
The Defense Ministry plans to conduct the test of PAC-3 Patriot interceptors at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico during the next fiscal year, which ends in March 2009, the Defense Ministry official said.
The major daily Mainichi reported that the test could be in late 2008, but the official said the ministry is still considering the timing.
The ministry has requested ¥900 million for the test in next year's budget, he said.
The test comes as Japan and the U.S. have been accelerating their joint missile defense system to counter North Korea's missile and nuclear threats.
Japan has deployed two PAC-3 missile defense units near Tokyo and plans major drills around its capital. It plans to deploy the missiles at nine more bases by March 2011.