Ground Self-Defense Force eyes missile coaching on distant Tokyo island

The Ground Self-Defense Force is contemplating establishing a firing vary on Tokyo’s Minamitorishima, a distant island within the Pacific, for surface-to-ship missile coaching, GSDF Chief of Staff Gen. Yasunori Morishita mentioned Thursday.

The GSDF is holding talks with native communities in hopes of beginning missile coaching on the island in 2026, Morishita instructed a daily press convention.

Minamitorishima is Japan’s easternmost island, positioned about 2,000 kilometers southeast of Honshu. It hosts a Maritime SDF base, and Japan Meteorological Agency employees are stationed on the island.