Japan, Russia at odds over Tokyo's missile defense plan

Russia complained Tuesday about Japan's plan to deploy U.S.-developed missile defense systems, but the foreign and defense ministers of the two countries agreed to work together toward the denuclearization of North Korea and step up security cooperation.In response to Russia's deep-seated concern about the deployment, Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said it is "purely for national defense."The friction over the installation of two land-based Aegis Ashore stations, which Japan sees as necessary to protect its territory from North Korean ballistic missile strikes, re-emerged as Ono…READ FULL ARTICLE