TOKYO, March 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Japan and the United States have agreed to deploy U.S. military radar for missile defense in northern Japan in the latter half of this year, Kyodo News reported Friday.

    The X-Band radar, aimed at detecting and intercepting ballistic missiles, is to be set up at Japan's Air Self-Defense Force base in Tsugaru, Aomori Prefecture. The facility will face the Sea of Japan.

    Around 10 U.S. military personnel and some 50 civilians will be stationed at the facility at any given time, officials said.

    "There is a possibility that the U.S. military's Misawa base (in Aomori Prefecture) will serve as the center for rear-area support," Atsushi Watanabe, head of the Facilities Department of Defense Facilities Administration Agency was quoted as saying when visiting Aomori on this issue.

    The agency has formally request local government to host the radar, Kyodo said.

    The deployment of the radar will be part of the long-time missile defense cooperation between Tokyo and Washington. Enditem