The Japanese government has decided to deploy Patriot Advanced Capability 3 surface-to-air interceptor missiles at all six antiaircraft artillery units across Japan against the threat of North Korean ballistic missiles, the Sankei Shimbun reported Sunday.

Currently, PAC3 missiles are deployed at three nationwide Air Self-Defense Force units to defend the Tokyo metropolitan, Kansai and Kyushu regions. But the Japanese government decided to deploy them at the other three units to defend the entire country in view of North Korea's improved missile capabilities, the daily said.

The three new units are Hokkaido, Okinawa, and Aomori in Tohoku. The country's Defense Ministry plans to ask for money from next year's budget for the plan.