澳將加入日美研究聯合導彈防御系統 (Report: Australia to Join US, Japan in Joint Missile Defense System Study)

日本日經產業新聞星期二援引日本防衛省不愿透露姓名的官員的話說，澳大利亞將與美國和日本一起研究建立導彈防御系統，以抵御亞太地區日漸增長的威脅。

日本官員說，三國將對未來可能出現的事態進行探討，例如北韓有可能進行的彈道導彈襲擊以及中國的導彈射程有可能到達澳大利亞和美國領地關島等情形。日本和澳大利亞國防部官員拒絕對這一報導作出評論。

這家日本報紙還說，三國將在今年年底前舉行會議，就擬議建立的導彈防御系統進行討論。1998年，北韓發射了一枚導彈，導彈在飛越日本領空后墜落到海里。北韓去年進行了一次核試驗。

Japanese newspaper The Nikkei Business Daily Tuesday cites unidentified officials at Japan's Defense Ministry as saying that Australia will join the United States and Japan in researching a missile defense system to counter growing threats in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Japanese officials say the three countries will be exploring possible scenarios involving North Korean ballistic missile attacks and Chinese missiles that could reach Australia or the U.S. territory of Guam. Japanese and Australian defense officials have refused to comment on the report.

The newspaper says the three countries will hold a meeting before the end of the year to discuss the proposed missile defense shield. In 1998, North Korea launched a missile that flew over Japan and landed in the sea. It conducted a nuclear test last year.