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Japan says it will join US missile defense system
TOKYO (AFP) Dec 19, 2003
 Japan said Friday it has decided to adopt ballistic missile defense (BMD) systems, to be developed jointly with the United States, to protect itself from the threat of North Korean missile attacks.

"BMD meets (Japan's) exclusively defense-oriented policy as the only effective method to counter attacks by ballistic missiles," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said in a statement.

"It is a purely defensive system and should not threaten our neighbors," he said. "We will do our utmost to defend our nation and to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction," he said.

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