Photo/Illutration Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) surface-to-air interceptors are seen during a drill held in November 2022 in Oi, Fukui Prefecture. (Tsunetaka Sato)

Amid the threat of a North Korean ballistic missile launch, the first Self-Defense Forces troops assigned to interceptor missile units started arriving on islands in Okinawa Prefecture.

The first vehicles belonging to the units arrived at Yonagunijima and Ishigakijima islands on April 23 and 24, according to local officials.

Vehicles and personnel will also be deployed in Miyakojima island as early as April 25.

The moves come days after Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada ordered the SDF to be prepared to shoot down a North Korean ballistic missile flying over southwestern Japan.

North Korean media reported earlier this month that the country had completed its first spy satellite and was preparing to launch it. 

SDF officials visited the prefectural capital of Naha on April 24 to meet with Masahito Tamari, a senior aide to the Okinawan governor.

Tha officials discussed the planned deployment of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) surface-to-air missiles in Ishigakijima, Yonagunijima and Miyakojima islands.

They sought the local government’s cooperation including the use of the Nakagusuku Bay port in the main Okinawan island, which is currently bustling with cargo ships, according to prefectural officials.

The SDF officials also visited the three islands to discuss the issue with local officials.

Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki has urged the central government to ensure accountability to local communities and keep them informed about the situation.

Meanwhile, Ishigaki Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama has shown a willingness to accept the missile units to prepare for a national security emergency, stressing that the safety of the community is the top priority.

North Korea is known to have launched ballistic missiles four times between 2009 and 2016 under the pretext of launching satellites. 

The last three were launched southward, prompting Japan to strengthen its missile defenses in Okinawa.

The latest plans openly state that the anti-missile units will be deployed in Okinawa, an unusual step in disclosing sensitive military information to the public.

This is meant to make negotiations with local authorities easier and avoid blindsiding local communities, according to Defense Ministry sources.

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