Japan, US sign missile defense cooperation memo

Japan and the United States signed an agreement Friday on the details of their joint development of a ballistic missile defense system.

Defense Agency Director General Yoshinori Ono signed a memorandum of understanding with US Ambassador to Japan Howard Baker in a ceremony.

The document includes items on intelligence exchange of research, deployment and operations of the missile defense system, according to the agency.

Under the memorandum, the two sides will form a joint high-level committee to facilitate the project.

The Japanese government decided last year to introduce US-made ground and vessel-borne ballistic missile defense systems, and aims to deploy them in fiscal 2007. To that end, it has also eased its long-standing arms export ban, allowing supply of parts to the US side.