Suspension of Aegis Ashore deployment US official “not withdrawal” 4:19, June 19
About the Japanese government suspending the deployment plan of the new interception missile system "Aegis Ashore", a senior official of the US Department of Defense acknowledges that the plan has not been withdrawn, and in order to decide future action Japan Revealed technical discussions with the side.
About "Aegis Ashore" The Ministry of Defense was planning to deploy the Self-Defense Forces in the exercise fields in Yamaguchi and Akita prefectures, but on the 15th, the propulsion auxiliary device used when launching interceptor missiles safely dropped. He revealed that the missile needs to be refurbished in order to get it to work, so he announced the suspension of the plan.
Regarding this, Deputy Secretary of Defense Helby, who will oversee the policy of the Asia-Pacific region at the Department of Defense, said in a telephone conference with some media on the 18th, ``The Japanese government is planning to decide a more cost-effective alternative. I understand that I am technically revising the project."
He added, "We are conducting technical discussions with the Japanese side to determine the best path for the future. Aegis Asshore wants to emphasize that it will surely benefit the Japan-US alliance and the Japanese people."
It seems that the U.S. government wants to proceed with the deployment plan because it has shown strong expectations that the deployment of Aegis Ashore will strengthen Japan-US defense cooperation and reduce the burden on the US military.