OREANDA-NEWS. Tokyo’s decision to abandon plan to deploy the American ground-based missile defense system Aegis Ashore will not affect relations between Japan and the United States. This was claimed by Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

“In the situation of complicating the situation around ensuring security, thanks to our cooperation with the United States, which is our ally, a structure was created without flaws. I do not think that this decision will affect various types of cooperation with the United States, we will continue close cooperation with the United States and strengthen the containment forces of the union of Japan and the USA,” the politician said at a meeting of the security committee.

In 2017, in connection with the launch of ballistic missiles by North Korea, Japan decided to deploy two systems Aegis Ashore on its territory. They should be deployed in prefectures Akita and Yamaguchi by 2023. Each system will cost Japan 100 billion yen (about 900 million US dollars).

On June 15, 2020, Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono announced the refusal of the deployment of missile defense systems.