Japan preparing to intercept possible N. Korea missile

Japan preparing to intercept possible N. Korea missile

TOKYO, May 30 Kyodo - Patriot Advanced Capability-3 surface-to-air missile interceptors are installed on the Defense Ministry premises in Tokyo on May 30, 2016. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani ordered the Self-Defense Forces to prepare to intercept a possible North Korean missile amid signs Pyongyang may go ahead with a ballistic missile launch in defiance of U.N. resolutions.

Angelella, Iwasaki talk

Angelella, Iwasaki talk

TOKYO, Japan - Lt. Gen. Salvatore Angelella (C), commander of U.S. forces in Japan, and Gen. Shigeru Iwasaki (R), chief of the Japanese Defense Ministry's Joint Staff, talk outside the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Dec. 6, 2012, in front of a Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptor deployed to intercept a North Korean rocket if it appears to be falling on Japanese territory. North Korea says it plans to launch a rocket carrying an "earth observation satellite" sometime between Dec. 10 and 22.

Japan deploys missile interceptors

Japan deploys missile interceptors

MIYAKO ISLAND, Japan - A Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile interceptor is unloaded from the military transport ship Osumi at Miyako Island in Okinawa Prefecture on Dec. 6, 2012, to intercept a North Korean rocket if it appears to be falling on Japanese territory. North Korea says it plans to launch a rocket carrying an "earth observation satellite" sometime between Dec. 10 and 22.

Japan deploys missile interceptors

Japan deploys missile interceptors

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken Dec. 6, 2012, shows a Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile interceptor having been deployed at the Ground Self-Defense Force's Asaka training field in Saitama Prefecture to intercept a North Korean rocket if it appears to be falling on Japanese territory. North Korea says it plans to launch a rocket carrying an "earth observation satellite" sometime between Dec. 10 and 22.

Japan deploys missile interceptors

Japan deploys missile interceptors

MIYAKO ISLAND, Japan - A Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile interceptor is unloaded from the military transport ship Osumi at Miyako Island in Okinawa Prefecture on Dec. 6, 2012, to intercept a North Korean rocket if it appears to be falling on Japanese territory. North Korea says it plans to launch a rocket carrying an "earth observation satellite" sometime between Dec. 10 and 22.

Japan deploys missile interceptors

Japan deploys missile interceptors

FUKUOKA, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows the Myoko (front) and the Kongo, Aegis destroyers carrying SM-3 missile interceptors, leaving the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Sasebo base in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, on Dec. 6, 2012. A total of three Aegis destroyers armed with SM-3 missile interceptors left the port for deployment in the East China Sea and Sea of Japan to intercept a North Korean rocket if it appears to be falling on Japanese territory. North Korea says it plans to launch a rocket carrying an "earth observation satellite" sometime between Dec. 10 and 22.

Japan deploys missile interceptors

Japan deploys missile interceptors

FUKUOKA, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows the Chokai, an Aegis destroyer carrying an SM-3 missile interceptor, leaving the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Sasebo base in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, on Dec. 6, 2012. A total of three Aegis destroyers armed with SM-3 missile interceptors left the port for deployment in the East China Sea and Sea of Japan to intercept a North Korean rocket if it appears to be falling on Japanese territory. North Korea says it plans to launch a rocket carrying an "earth observation satellite" sometime between Dec. 10 and 22.

Japan deploys missile interceptors

Japan deploys missile interceptors

FUKUOKA, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows the Myoko (front) and the Kongo, Aegis destroyers carrying SM-3 missile interceptors, leaving the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Sasebo base in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, on Dec. 6, 2012. A total of three Aegis destroyers armed with SM-3 missile interceptors left the port for deployment in the East China Sea and Sea of Japan to intercept a North Korean rocket if it appears to be falling on Japanese territory. North Korea says it plans to launch a rocket carrying an "earth observation satellite" sometime between Dec. 10 and 22.

Japan deploys missile interceptors

Japan deploys missile interceptors

FUKUOKA, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows the Myoko (front) and the Kongo, Aegis destroyers carrying SM-3 missile interceptors, leaving the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Sasebo base in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, on Dec. 6, 2012. A total of three Aegis destroyers armed with SM-3 missile interceptors left the port for deployment in the East China Sea and Sea of Japan to intercept a North Korean rocket if it appears to be falling on Japanese territory. North Korea says it plans to launch a rocket carrying an "earth observation satellite" sometime between Dec. 10 and 22.

Japan deploys missile interceptors

Japan deploys missile interceptors

TOKYO, Japan - Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptors are deployed on the premises of the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Dec. 5, 2012, to intercept a North Korean rocket if it appears to be falling on Japanese territory. North Korea says it plans to launch a rocket carrying an "earth observation satellite" sometime between Dec. 10 and 22.

Japan's Aegis destroyers sent to Sea of Japan

Japan's Aegis destroyers sent to Sea of Japan

SASEBO, Japan - The Japanese Aegis guided-missile destroyer Kongou leaves its base in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, for the Sea of Japan on March 28 to prepare to intercept a rocket North Korea plans to launch if it falls into Japanese territory.

Japan's Aegis destroyers sent to Sea of Japan

Japan's Aegis destroyers sent to Sea of Japan

SASEBO, Japan - Photo taken March 28 shows a system to launch missile interceptors on the Japanese Aegis guided-missile destroyer Choukai, which left its base in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, for the Sea of Japan on March 28 to prepare to intercept a rocket North Korea plans to launch if the rocket falls into Japanese territory.

Japan's Aegis destroyers sent to Sea of Japan

Japan's Aegis destroyers sent to Sea of Japan

SASEBO, Japan - The Japanese Aegis guided-missile destroyer Choukai leaves its base in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, for the Sea of Japan on March 28 to prepare to intercept a rocket North Korea plans to launch if it falls into Japanese territory.

Japan's Aegis destroyers sent to Sea of Japan

Japan's Aegis destroyers sent to Sea of Japan

SASEBO, Japan - Japanese Aegis guided-missile destroyers, the Choukai (front) and the Kongou (in back) leave their base in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, for the Sea of Japan on March 28 to prepare to intercept a rocket North Korea plans to launch if it falls into Japanese territory.

Japan orders N. Korean rocket destruction

Japan orders N. Korean rocket destruction

SASEBO, Japan - The Aegis destroyers of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, the Kongou (L) and the Choukai, dock at the MSDF base in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, on March 27. The destroyers are equipped with the launcher of the Standard Missile-3 which can intercept a ballistic missile in space.

Japan orders N. Korean rocket destruction

Japan orders N. Korean rocket destruction

SASEBO, Japan - The Aegis destroyers of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, the Kongou (L) and the Choukai, dock at the MSDF base in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, on March 27. The destroyers are equipped with the launcher of the Standard Missile-3 which can intercept a ballistic missile in space. (Kyodo)

Japan's Aegis destroyers sent to Sea of Japan

Japan's Aegis destroyers sent to Sea of Japan

SASEBO, Japan - The Japanese Aegis guided-missile destroyer Kongou leaves its base in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, for the Sea of Japan on March 28 to prepare to intercept a rocket North Korea plans to launch if it falls into Japanese territory. (Kyodo)

Japan's Aegis destroyers sent to Sea of Japan

Japan's Aegis destroyers sent to Sea of Japan

SASEBO, Japan - Photo taken March 28 shows a system to launch missile interceptors on the Japanese Aegis guided-missile destroyer Choukai, which left its base in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, for the Sea of Japan on March 28 to prepare to intercept a rocket North Korea plans to launch if the rocket falls into Japanese territory. (Kyodo)

Japan's Aegis destroyers sent to Sea of Japan

Japan's Aegis destroyers sent to Sea of Japan

SASEBO, Japan - Japanese Aegis guided-missile destroyers, the Choukai (front) and the Kongou (in back) leave their base in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, for the Sea of Japan on March 28 to prepare to intercept a rocket North Korea plans to launch if it falls into Japanese territory. (Kyodo)

Japan's Aegis destroyers sent to Sea of Japan

Japan's Aegis destroyers sent to Sea of Japan

SASEBO, Japan - The Japanese Aegis guided-missile destroyer Choukai leaves its base in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, for the Sea of Japan on March 28 to prepare to intercept a rocket North Korea plans to launch if it falls into Japanese territory. (Kyodo)

Pacific War History 19: B-29s on their way to bomb the Japanese mainland

Aerial view of U.S. pilots on a B-29 on their way to bomb the Japanese mainland, and Iwo Jima struggling as Japanese planes intercept them, date of shooting unknown, release date: January 1, 1951. Date of release: January 1, 1951.

Japan's Gamba suffer loss to China's R&F in ACL opener

Japan's Gamba suffer loss to China's R&F in ACL opener

Midfielder Takashi Usami (C) of Japanese club Gamba Osaka shoots as midfielder Wang Song of China's Guangzhou R&F tries to intercept in the first half of a match in an Asian Champions League Group F opener at Expo '70 stadium in Osaka on Feb. 24, 2015. The home team lost 2-0. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan orders defense forces to intercept N. Korean missiles

Japan orders defense forces to intercept N. Korean missiles

Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani speaks to reporters at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on June 21, 2016, after ordering the Self-Defense Forces to prepare to intercept any ballistic missiles launched toward the country from North Korea. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan orders defense forces to intercept N. Korean missiles

Japan orders defense forces to intercept N. Korean missiles

Japanese Air Self-Defense Force members set up Patriot Advanced Capability-3 surface-to-air guided interceptors on the Defense Ministry's premises in Tokyo on June 21, 2016, following an order by Defense Minister Gen Nakatani to prepare to intercept any ballistic missiles launched toward the country from North Korea. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan prepared to intercept possible N. Korea missile

Japan prepared to intercept possible N. Korea missile

Patriot Advanced Capability-3 surface-to-air missile interceptors are installed on the Defense Ministry premises in Tokyo on May 30, 2016. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani ordered the Self-Defense Forces to prepare to intercept a possible North Korean missile amid signs Pyongyang may go ahead with a ballistic missile launch in defiance of U.N. resolutions. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan prepared to intercept possible N. Korea missile

Japan prepared to intercept possible N. Korea missile

Patriot Advanced Capability-3 surface-to-air missile interceptors are installed on the Defense Ministry premises in Tokyo on May 30, 2016. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani ordered the Self-Defense Forces to prepare to intercept a possible North Korean missile amid signs Pyongyang may go ahead with a ballistic missile launch in defiance of U.N. resolutions. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo