All Saturday morning papers reported that senior Defense Ministry officials informed the prefectural governments of Yamaguchi and Akita on Friday of its plan to install Aegis Ashore batteries at local GSDF camps. In response, the two governors reportedly asked the ministry to promptly provide local residents with detailed explanations.

Asahi added that the justification for the expensive missile defense platforms may be rendered irrelevant if North Korea agrees to dismantle its nuclear and missile programs as a result of the anticipated U.S.-DPRK summit.