Japan’s Patriot PAC-3 missile defense system is deployed in response to North Korea’s provocative ballistic missile tests (Photo: EPA/ VNA)

Kyodo news agency quoted an official saying the government is eager to set aside funds to study the feasibility of acquiring the ability to strike enemy missile sites, and could do so in the draft budget for fiscal 2018. According to the official, the government is considering deploying Tomahawks on Aegis-equipped vessels in the Maritime Self-Defense Force fleet. The Tomahawk is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile. It has enough range to hit any part of North Korea from the Sea of Japan and can fly at extremely low altitudes, making it less noticeable to radar.