US Providing Japan With Advanced Air Defense Missiles

Announcement of sale comes days after Japan said it won't shoot down North Korean test ballistic missiles

A missile similiar to those sold to Japan is fired and destroys a target drone during an international flight test at the Andoya Space Center in Norway on Aug. 31. Courtesy of Raytheon

The State Department approved the sale of nearly 60 advanced air-to-air missiles amid increased tensions with North Korea.

“The proposed sale will provide Japan a critical air defense capability to assist in defending the Japanese homeland and U.S. personnel stationed there,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement.