ASAKA CITY, Japan (Reuters) — Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) held on Wednesday (June 21) a drill operating the anti-ballistic missile PAC-3 and other associated military equipment amid increasing tensions with North Korea which has been increasing the number of its missiles test launches in recent months.
The showing of the drill, which involved self-defense personnel setting up and operating a PAC-3 launch pad and associated equipment such as a Radar Set and an Antenna Mast Group, is relatively rare as the media aren’t invited to most military drills.
By making the drill public, JASDF hopes to make Japanese citizens feel safe while improving their anti-ballistic missile capabilities, JASDF major Akinori Hanada told journalists.
Tokyo has repeatedly condemned the test launches, which are in violation of United Nations resolutions. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government earlier this year instructed municipalities to hold evacuation drills, heightening a sense of urgency among the public.
