The US is deploying missile defence systems in the Asia Pacific region to defend itself and allies against the threat from North Korea, a top Pentagon official has said.
"In the Asia-Pacific region, the United States is focused on defending US forces as well as our allies against the threat from North Korea. Additionally, we have deployed a number of missile defence assets in the region," Frank A Rose, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence in Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, said.
"For example, we have deployed a missile defence radar in Japan, and we have several US ships operating in the Sea of Japan, with the missile defence mission.
"We are also discussing with Japan the possibility of deploying a second radar in Japan, which will assist with the defence of the United States, Japan against threats from North Korea," he said in Tokyo on Wednesday, according to an official transcripts.
