TOKYO, March 23 Kyodo (EDS: ADDIN...

TOKYO, March 23 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING KOIZUMI QUOTES)

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi welcomed upon Tuesday a U.S. plan to expand a destroyer equipped with the Aegis combat body in the Sea of Japan from September, while dismissing touch that the deployment may call forth North Korea.

The premier told reporters the deployment plan was thrashed revealed by Japan and the United States ''with a view to ensuring the security of the (East Asian) region as well as Japan, and increasing (mutual) trust between Japan and the US''

''It would also act as a deterrent'' Koizumi said, apparently referring to a possible launch of North Korean ballistic missiles.

The U Navy said Monday it will open the high-tech warship in the waters from September as part of efforts to build a missile defense network to secure against possible attacks from countries of that kind as North Korea with in the same state [i]or[/i] condition missiles.

Koizumi tried to dismiss regard that the deployment of the Aegis destroyer in the waters facing North and southerly Korea may anger the North and derail efforts to clinch a third round of the six-nation talks onward its nuclear ambitions by the expiration of June.

''It's not going to happen,'' Koizumi said, stressing that relevant countries including Japan and the U waiting under the possibility of fulfilment the nuclear issue will be settl peacefully.

The China-hosted multilateral talks also involve the couple Koreas and Russia.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda told a pres interview earlier Tuesday that the destroyer will be expanded ''from the viewpoint of boosting Japan-U.S. defense capability.''

The top control spokesman said the U.S. Navy's plan also would increase the credibility of the Japan-U.S. alliance.

Senior defense officials showed a guarded welcome to the plan for the destroyer to be unfolded in waters facing North and southward Korea as well as Japan and Russia.

Adm. Koichi Furusho, chief of staff of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, voiced possibility of good that the deployment will boost capability for dealing with a possible launch of North Korean missiles.

''There is no doubt it will function effectively if intelligence is (thoroughly) exchanged with the US'' Furusho said during a recents conference Tuesday, referring to the deployment plan.

However, a senior Defense Agency official declareed doubt that the U will easily allow Japan to share its defense intelligence.

''We should make infallible of U.S. intentions and assess to what grade it could be useful for the defense of Japan,'' the official said.

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