The Saturday editions of all national dailies reported that Defense Minister Kono unveiled on Friday the results of the ministry’s internal investigation into the administrative process leading up to the cancellation of the Aegis Ashore procurement. Ministry bureaucrats, including the vice defense minister, reportedly did not inform the defense minister of technical problems with the rocket boosters of the interceptor missiles for almost six months even though they were aware of them by the beginning of this year. They also reportedly explained to local authorities in Akita Prefecture that the boosters could be safely guided to fall in predetermined locations without confirming with a U.S. developer whether such a guided fall was technically feasible. The defense chief said the entire process was “careless” and “not carried out in good faith,” promising to improve communications and information sharing within the ministry.