Japan is strongly considering acquiring and deploying the Aegis Ashore missile defense system to bolster defenses against growing missile threats from North Korea, Japanese defense minister said on Monday.

Tomomi Inada told a committee of the Upper House of Japan’s National Diet that, faced with growing threats from North Korea’s ongoing missile and nuclear development, ballistic missile defense (BMD) continues to be a top priority for Japan’s government.

“In order to bolster capabilities to defend the whole area of our nation all the time, we will… consider introducing ballistic missile defense (BMD) systems for the future such as Aegis Ashore, without