Japan holds drill amid North Korean missile threat

Record ID: 903376

  • Title: Japan holds drill amid North Korean missile threat
  • Date: 19th July 2017
  • Summary: SENDAI, MIYAGI PREFECTURE, JAPAN (JULY 19, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MILITARY VEHICLES CARRYING PAC-3 INTERCEPTORS EQUIPMENT DRIVING INTO JAPAN SELF-DEFENCE FORCE SENDAI BASE SIGN READING (Japanese): "JAPAN GROUND SELF-DEFENCE FORCE'S SENDAI BASE" VARIOUS OF MILITARY VEHICLE LOADED WITH PAC-3 LAUNCH PAD MOVING INTO BASE VARIOUS OF PAC-3 LAUNCH PAD DRIVING ONTO EXERCISE GROUND LOCAL CAMERAMEN FILMING PAC-3 LAUNCH PAD VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS PREPARING LAUNCH PAD SOLDIER LOOKING AT LAUNCH PAD VARIOUS OF LAUNCH PAD TILTING UPWARDS VARIOUS OF LAUNCH PAD TURNING HEAD OF SENDAI BASE AND JAPAN AIR SELF-DEFENCE FORCE MAJOR, TSUTOMU YAMASAKI, LISTENING TO MEDIA QUESTIONS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPAN AIR SELF-DEFENCE FORCE MAJOR, TSUTOMU YAMASAKI, SAYING: "I believe people in Japan are worried due to North Korea's repeated test launches of ballistic missiles. We'd like to help dispel their fear and, by seeing this drill, be assured they are protected." INTERVIEW IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPAN AIR SELF-DEFENCE FORCE MAJOR, TSUTOMU YAMASAKI, SAYING: "We're the last bastion in our missile defence system. I tell my servicemen and women to have pride and work with determination when they work with the Patriot missiles." VARIOUS OF PAC-3 RADAR TURNING AROUND VARIOUS OF PAC-3 LAUNCH PAD TURNING AROUND COMMUNICATION ANTENNAS MOVING UP PAC-3 UNIT SET UP ON EXERCISE GROUND VARIOUS OF PAC-3 LAUNCH PAD
  • Embargoed: 2nd August 2017 09:06
  • Keywords: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) anti-ballistic missiles drills North Korea Japan military drill missiles PAC-3
  • Location: SENDAI, JAPAN
  • City: SENDAI, JAPAN
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,International/National Security
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016QDU1J9
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Japan's Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) held a practice drill on Wednesday (July 19) using anti-ballistic Patriot interceptors at a military base in northern Japan, as tensions increased in the region over North Korea's repeated missiles test launches in recent months.
    Earlier this month North Korea said it had conducted its first test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), and that it had mastered the technology to mount a nuclear warhead on the missile. Some experts say the test puts significant parts of the U.S. mainland in range of an attack from North Korea, even if their ability to strike with any degree of accuracy is limited.
    A dozen military vehicles on Wednesday carrying one Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile launch pad and other related equipment were dispatched to Sendai, one of the most populated cities in northern Japan, some 1,363 kilometers (847 miles) away from Panghyon, North Korea, where the Hwasong-14 missile was launched.
    Japan's military has been inviting media to several such drills since June in a bid to reassure Japanese citizens of the nation's defense capacity, JASDF major Tsutomu Yamasaki said.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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