Japan plans to deploy long-range missiles, North Korea unlikely to leave it alone

Japan's consideration of deploying long-range missiles on the southwestern island of Kyushu to bolster its defense capabilities has prompted a warning from North Korea.

The Type-12 land-based anti-ship missile is a Japanese-made missile with a self-guided land-based guidance system. (Source: Yonhap)

On March 15, Kyodo News, citing Japanese government sources, reported that Tokyo is considering deploying missiles at the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) land-based anti-ship missile regiments in the cities of Yufu or Kumamoto in Oita Prefecture.

The deployment, scheduled for March 2026, aims to enhance security for the Nansei island chain in the southwest of the country, which is of strategic importance to the Northeast Asian nation.

However, deployment could face obstacles as local authorities and residents are concerned that these areas could become targets for the enemy in the event of armed conflict.

The missiles being considered for deployment are upgraded versions of the Type-12 land-based anti-ship guided missile, which has a range of up to 1,000 km. Japan is enhancing the counter-attack capabilities of these missiles.

These missiles are intended to replace the U.S. Aegis Ashore land-based missile defense system, which Japan abandoned in 2020 due to the threat posed by their landings on populated areas.

Responding to this information, on March 20, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted the head of the policy department of the Japan Research Institute under the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying that Pyongyang believes this move will "cause a constant escalation of tensions" in Northeast Asia.

The KCNA report stated: "All military means and various forms of activities that directly target North Korea must be eliminated."

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