JAPAN is exploring the development of first-strike capabilities after it suspended the Aegis Ashore missile shield last week.
It is learned that the first-strike option emerged as the National Security Council met on Wednesday to reaffirm the suspension of the Aegis Ashore programme, reports Nikkei Asian Review.
After putting the long-delayed and costly US-developed Aegis Ashore land-based missile defence system on hold permanently, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is assembling a team to look at alternatives, including the pre-emptive strike option.
The LDP will submit a recommendation next month to the central government.
Alternatives to the Aegis Ashore system includes expanding the fleet of Aegis-equipped warships or building artificial megafloat structures to stage Aegis systems offshore.
But both options involve massive spending, which the government is reluctant to commit to.
Unlike the high cost and lack of reliability of shooting down rockets in flight, striking launch facilities pre-emptively would be cheaper and easier, say some in defence circles.
Japan is considered the "shield" in its long military alliance with Washington, often called a "sword and shield" relationship.
The US is the "sword" that launches attacks while Tokyo focuses on defence.
But lately, that security concept has come into question.
There is already a plan for acquiring hardware capable of pre-emptive strikes with the defence ministry deciding to introduce long-range cruise missiles to its arsenal in 2017.
The missiles, which have a range of 900 km, would be fired from air force fighter jets but the government maintains the missiles are not for the purpose of attacking enemy bases.
Some in the LDP have argued in favour of possessing land and sea-based cruise missiles.
When suspending the Aegis missile system, the government cited production delays and the huge cost needed to protect nearby residential areas from falling booster rocket debris.
Further complicating the situation is the mounting complexity of tracking enemy projectiles as some rockets use solid propellants that make initial launches harder to detect.
Other missiles are also being developed to fly at higher speeds and allow course variations, enabling them to evade being shot down.
"It will become harder to intercept missiles," said a source involved in national defence.
Japan has long maintained that its constitution allows for attacks on enemy bases.
"We want to thoroughly consider the matter as a strictly defensive policy," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Wednesday.
The Japanese government has a policy of not possessing arms designed exclusively for attacking other nations.
The category includes intercontinental ballistic missiles, strategic bombers, and attack carriers.