Lindsey Pulse
Japan's Emperor Is Retiring â But Not Super Soon
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced Emperor Akihito will step down April 30, 2019.
LEARN MOREPosted: 9:27 a.m. EST Dec 8, 2017
Japan is planning to buy long-range missiles in an effort to deter growing security threats.
According to the country's defense minister, the missiles will be used to defend naval ships and possibly for island defense.
CNN reports Japan will buy a few kinds of missiles: Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles and Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles from Lockheed Martin as well as Joint Strike Missiles from Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace.
The defense minister didn't mention North Korea by name, but the Hermit Kingdom is increasingly posing a threat.
North Korea launched a ballistic missile in November it claims is capable of "striking the whole" U.S. mainland. The missile landed in the Sea of Japan.
Japan's decision to seek long-range missiles might be met with some criticism. The country's post-World War II constitution renounces war and war potential.
