The Japanese Defense Ministry has requested an additional 730 million yen (6.4 million USD) in the FY 2018 defense budget to begin building two land-based Aegis Ashore missile defense systems. Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera told reporters on Sunday that, “There is a need to strengthen our capability to regularly and sustainably defend all of the country as soon as possible at a time when North Korea is building up its ballistic missile capability,” and that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet will endorse the plan. Japan’s initial 5.26 trillion-yen budget for FY 2018 discussed funds for a new missile defense system, but it did not specify an amount to cover expected costs for the Aegis Ashore system. The requested 730 million yen will cover costs associated with geological surveys, deployment plan design, and other related expenses.