U-S Officials say Japan and the United States will formally agree to begin a missile defense research program Monday. Japan already owns a number of Aegis- equipped ships that could form the backbone of a missile defense system. A U-S Official, who asked not to be named, said the new research program will focus mostly on the interceptor missile that is supposed to track, strike and destroy the attacking warheads loaded with nuclear, germ or chemical weapons.
Experts say it is a very difficult task, much like hitting a bullet with another bullet.
They also plan improvements to the weapon's second-stage propulsion system to make it faster and more likely to catch its prey. Analysts say Japan was reluctant to join the research program, until North Korea fired a ballistic missile across Japan and out into the Pacific last year. Tokyo agreed to greatly increase the size of the difficult research program recently, as North Korea said it was getting reach to test another, even more powerful weapon. Tokyo strengthened military ties with the United States last year, and asserted its right to defend itself in a recent government report. It also plans to develop its own spy satellite system.