NHK has learned that Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force plans to build a firing range for surface-to-ship missile drills on Minamitorishima Island in the Pacific.

Minamitorishima is part of Tokyo's Ogasawara Islands.

Informed sources say the site is being planned for drills involving surface-to-ship missiles.

The domestically produced missiles have a range of over 100 kilometers and are deployed mainly on Japan's southwestern islands.

The Minamitorishima site will be the first built in Japan for missiles of that range.

Non-exploding training missiles will be used for the drills and target areas will be located off the island's west coast. The drills will start in fiscal 2026 or later.

Japan's Defense Ministry also aims to extend the range of the missiles to around 1,000 kilometers for counterstrikes against enemy bases in the event of a contingency.

Exercises involving these upgraded missiles, as well as Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectiles now under development, will also likely be held at the site.

The government apparently wants to bolster the defense of Japan's remote islands through domestic drills involving such missiles.

Minamitorishima lies about 2,000 kilometers southeast of Japan's main island of Honshu and is the country's easternmost territory.

The island's only inhabitants are Maritime Self-Defense Force and Meteorological Agency personnel.

The Defense Ministry says it has already briefed the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Ogasawara Village about the plan. The ministry said it is aware of local concerns and will take steps to ensure safety as well as continue to offer detailed explanations.

Ogasawara Village officials say the construction of the site may be inevitable in light of Japan's harsh security environment.

They say they will ask the Defense Ministry to address their concerns, such as the angle at which the missiles are to be fired.

Defense Ministry officials say they acknowledge such concerns from the local municipality. They say they will take all possible measures to ensure safety and continue to provide detailed explanation of the site.