Japan and the United States have expanded their agreement over missile defense programs to include joint development and production of related materials. The two nations Friday signed the agreement which would allow them to jointly develop an advanced capability missile interceptor for the ballistic missile defense system, the Japanese foreign ministry said in a statement.
Foreign Minister Taro Aso and US Ambassador Thomas Schieffer also signed another pact Friday to prevent outflows of Japanese missile parts to conflict-hit nations as the two allies jointly develop a missile defense system.
The agreements were concluded amid fears that North Korea may fire a long-range ballistic missile.
The Japanese government last December decided to start in the current fiscal year to March 2007 a joint development of the next-generation Standard Missile 3 system with the United States.
Japan in 1967 banned arms exports to countries that were communist, under UN sanctions or engaged in international conflict. In 1976 it went further, barring all arms exports regardless of the destination.
However, Japan ended the ban last year and said it would decide on exports on a case-by-case basis.
The move was designed to allow exports to its close ally, the United States, with which Japan is building missile defenses against communist neighbor North Korea.
Source: Agence France-Presse
