Second X-Band Missile Radar To Be Deployed In Japan

US and Japan have agreed to deploy the second X band missile defense radar in Southern Japan to counter the threat posed by North Korea's missile arsenal. Leon Panetta, US Defense Secretary, said, "The purpose of this is to enhance our ability to defend Japan. It's also designed to help forward-deployed US forces. It also will be effective in protecting the US homeland from the North Korean ballistic missile threat”. The first X-band radar has been deployed and nearly 47,000 US troops are stationed in Japan. The X-band radar technology is used by American Navy cruisers and destroyers assigned to the missile-defense mission in the Pacific have a permanent radar on Japanese territory. This will allow the warships to move with flexibility around the region and expand more radar coverage. Korea carried out a failed rocket launch in April 2012, which was strongly condemned by the UN Security Council strongly as the exercise was a violation of council resolutions amid and tightened sanctions.