Japan intercepts ballistic missile in test

HONOLULU, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. Missile Defense Agency and the Japan maritime self-defense forces intercepted a ballistic missile using the Aegis missile defense system.

Crew members on board a Japanese destroyer detected and tracked a target from their position off the coast of Kauai in Hawaii. The destroyer launched a Standard Missile-3 interceptor missile at a target ballistic missile roughly 100 miles above the Pacific Ocean, destroying the target roughly three minutes later.

The test was the third such event for Japanese forces, verifying the engagement capability of the Japanese Aegis missile defense system, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said.

The Aegis fleet with the Japanese maritime force is deployed off the Japanese coast to defend against any regional threat, including North Korea.

North Korea has conducted a series of long- and short-range missile tests in recent years. Its latest test Oct. 12 of its short-range KN-02 missile was considered a failure, Radio Free Asia reports.

Seismic reports suggest North Korea may have tested a nuclear device earlier this year.

The Japanese interceptor is part of a plan outlined by U.S. President Barack Obama in September to form new defense architecture.

The Missile Defense Agency said the Japanese destroyer is en route to Japan "ready to provide additional ballistic missile defense capability against the increasing ballistic missile threat present in that region."