Japan planned to deploy four additional (EE-JIS) Aegis destroyers in the East Sea to better counter North Korea's growing missile threats. The issue was set to be discussed at the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee meeting scheduled for JJuly 2017 in Washington. Tokyo-based Kyodo News Agency reported on 26 June 2017 that Japan wanted to double its current deployment of four destroyers to eight as it's difficult to provide missile defense for all of Japan.

The seventh and eighth Aegis ships will join Japan’s fleet after 2020. As of 2017 Aegis provided four of Japan’s Kongo-class destroyers and two Atago-class destroyers with advanced sea, air and undersea threat detection capabilities. The Self Defense Forces of Japan joined the Aegis family in 1993.

Japan continues to modernize its fleet to support Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) roles and special mission requirements. The addition of two (2) new AEGIS DDGs will fulfill Japan’s mission goal of acquiring eight (8) ballistic missile defense capable ships and will further enhance interoperability with the U.S. Navy, build upon a longstanding cooperative effort with the United States, and provide enhanced capability with a valued partner in a geographic region of critical importance to Japan and the U.S. Government.