As Japan continues to fret over a planned test launch in North Korea, the military is preparing to deploy the “Son of Star Wars” missile defense system in case they decide to try to shoot down a North Korean rocket.

“If it is capable of reaching Japan then it goes without saying that we will react,” says Japan’s Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, who says that preparations have been made in case the test fire malfunctions and poses a threat to Japanese territory.

Any test missile would likely be shot far above the island nation, and attempting to shoot it down is not without risks. There are serious doubts that the missile defense can actually work, and a failed attempt would likely do enormous damage to the expensive program.

The United States has also made comments in recent days suggesting that it may shoot down the test missile, though it was still pending presidential approval. North Korea insists it is only launching a communication satellite, and not a missile.

Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz

• Homegrown US 'Terror Plots' Drop, But Nation Still 'On Edge' - February 9th, 2012
• Amputations Soared Among US Troops in 2011 - February 9th, 2012
• US Still Can't Find Missing Libyan Missiles - February 9th, 2012
• Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood: Let Us Form Government - February 9th, 2012
• As Reports of Violence Grow in Syria, So Do Western Calls for Intervention - February 9th, 2012