Japan to Expand Ballistic Missile Defense With Ground-Based Aegis Batteries

New measures to combat growing threat of North Korean rockets

The Missile Defense Agency conducts the first intercept flight test of a land-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense weapon system from the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Test Complex in Kauai, Hawaii, December 10, 2015. Reuters/U.S. Missile Defense Agency/Leah Garton/Handout via Reuters

TOKYO—Japan formally decided on Tuesday it would expand its ballistic missile defense system with U.S.-made ground-based Aegis radar stations and interceptors in response to a growing threat from North Korean rockets.

A proposal to build two Aegis Ashore batteries was approved by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Cabinet.