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TOKYO (AP) - Japan will use its future missile defense system to ward off an attack but not to shoot down missiles aimed at its allies, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Friday.
Japan and the United States are working on a joint defense program, spurred in part by North Korea's development of missiles capable of hitting Japan. But Koizumi told the upper house of Parliament that Japan would not be obligated to use the system to protect an allied country - such as the United States - from missile attack.
``The purpose of our country's missile defense is to intercept incoming missiles targeting Japan,'' he said. ``We are not thinking of dealing with other missiles targeting our allies.''
Koizumi added that the target of a missile can be judged from its angle at launch and its altitude. He also said that providing information to the United States on incoming missiles would not breach Japan's constitution.
Japan's military is strongly restricted by the country's pacifist constitution, which has been interpreted as imposing a ban on collective self-defense.
The United States is obliged under a treaty to defend Japan from attack and has about 50,000 troops based here.
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Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi announced on Friday that Japan will not shoot down missiles that are headed for its allies.

Koizumi spoke at the plenary meeting of the Upper House of the Japanese Parliament.

"The purpose of our country's missile defense is to intercept incoming missiles targeting Japan," said Koizumi. "We are not thinking of dealing with other missiles targeting our allies."

Koizumi pointed out that the angle and altitude of a missile in flight could be used to determine the target of the missile. He went on to clarify that he believed Japan could provide data about missiles to the United States without violating Japan's constitution.

Japan plans to install several American-made Patriot "Pak-3" complexes for its land-based defense systems, and later plans to install the American-made Aegis combat system on its naval ships.