December 19, 2007	Wednesday	Zilhaj 8, 1428

TOKYO, Dec 18: Japan said on Tuesday it had shot down a ballistic missile in space high above the Pacific Ocean as

part of joint efforts with the United States to erect a shield against a possible North Korean attack.

Japan tested the US-developed Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) interceptor from a warship in waters off Hawaii, becoming the first US ally to intercept a target using the system.

Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba described the successful test as “extremely significant.”

“We will continue to strive to increase the system’s credibility,” he told reporters, insisting the missile shield was worth the high cost.

“We can’t talk about how much money should be spent when human lives are at stake.” Japan plans to spend a total of 127 billion yen ($11.2bn) over the four years to March 2008 on missile defence using the US-developed Aegis combat system, according to the defence ministry.

The naval destroyer Kongou launched the SM-3 which, at 2212 GMT on Monday, or 7:12am on Tuesday in Japan, intercepted the missile fired from onshore earlier, the navy said in a statement.

Officials said the interception was made around 160km above the Pacific.

The test was “a major milestone in the growing cooperation between Japan and the US,” Japanese Rear Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano and Lieutenant General Henry Obering, director of the US Missile Defence Agency, said in a joint statement.

Previous participation had been limited to tracking and communications exercises, they noted.

Washington and Tokyo have been working jointly to erect a missile shield against possible attacks from North Korea, which fired a missile over Japan’s main island and into the Pacific Ocean in 1998.

However the missile defence system could affect Japan’s relations with its neighbours “by arousing suspicion in enemy countries,” said Yoshikazu Sakamoto, professor emeritus of the University of Tokyo.

“With regards to North Korea, Japan needs to enhance efforts in diplomatic negotiations to seriously address Pyongyang’s military threat,” he said.

Japan’s test outraged peace activists.

Missile defence tests “facilitate military unification of Japan and the United States” and defy Japan’s pacifist constitution, said Koji Sugihara, a member of a civic group campaigning against nuclear and missile tests.

Japan plans to install the missile shield on four Aegis-equipped destroyers by March 2011, including the Kongou.

The success of the SM-3 test paves the way for completion of Japan’s missile defence involving missiles fired from warships and ground-based launchers.—AFP