Japan: US Vice President Pence examined Patriot PAC-3 anti-missile system.

During his recent visit in Japan, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence examined the Patriot PAC-3 anti-missile system deployed by the Japanese Self-Defense Force in Tokyo to protect the city against a potential attack by North Korea.

Japanese Patriot PAC-3 anti-missile system (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Mike Pence arrived in Japan on 6 February on an official visit before flying to South Korea to attend the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. He started his official agenda on 7th February with a meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, after which they went on to examine the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 anti-missile defense system.

The PAC-3 defense systems are permanently deployed in Tokyo. Similar systems are deployed in different parts of the country, besides the Japanese Navy’s Aegis destroyers, which cover practically the entire Japanese archipelago against possible missile attacks. In 2017, the Japanese Self-Defense Force bolstered its anti-missile shield, which included a record increase in its defense budget, following repeated missile launches by North Korea, including two that flew over Japanese territory before falling into the Pacific Ocean.

Pence also hold a series of meetings with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.