Former Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, explained the LDP's proposal that the country should have such capability.

In response, Randall Schriver, former deputy assistant secretary of state, said, "I think it's a very understandable thing to do."

But Randall also said, "We've got to make sure our alliance adapts to it." He added, "Our interest is in keeping closely coordinated with Japan...using the existing alliance mechanisms to ensure that the doctrine is sound, that we understand roles and missions, we understand Japanese intentions on employment of this capability should they acquire it."

Randall is seen as a candidate for a senior post at the Department of State or the Department of Defense under the administration of President Donald Trump.

Citing "a very imminent threat," Kevin Maher, former head of Japan affairs at the Department of State, said that Japan should acquire cost-effective equipment quickly.

Dennis Blair, former director of National Intelligence, said that a counterattack missile is "the easy part" of the enemy base attack system, while noting, "The hard part is the intelligence that supports the targeting of that missile."

Blair advised Japan to first work on "the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance piece" of the system. (Jiji Press)