Ballistic missiles may have been fired toward waters in the Gulf of Aden where a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer was responding to the hijacking of a British tanker on Sunday.

MSDF Chief of Staff Admiral Sakai Ryo told reporters on Tuesday that the information came from the US military.

It said two ballistic missiles landed about 18 kilometers away from where a US destroyer was responding to the hijacking. The MSDF's destroyer Akebono and patrol aircraft were also on duty near the waters.

Sakai said that there was no threat to the safety of the Akebono, but added that he thinks it is impossible to respond if there is a fear of a direct hit from a ballistic missile because the destroyer is not equipped with an anti-ballistic missile system.

He also pointed out that ballistic missiles in Yemen are believed to lack precision, and he said the current MSDF mission there will continue.

The US military said the two ballistic missiles were fired toward the general direction of the US destroyer from areas controlled by Houthi rebels in Yemen, but there was no damage to the vessel.