日本參與美國飛彈防禦系統的研究，始於雷根政府時代之SDI，其主要目的在於為了緩和日美兩國因貿易摩擦所引發的緊張關係。不過，因為北韓於1998 年試射「大浦洞一號」飛彈，讓整體情勢為之丕變。同年12月，日本決定開始與美國進行彈道飛彈防禦技術研發。其後，由於北韓持續開發核武計畫曝光，並且宣布退出NPT，導致日本決心要建構飛彈防禦戰力。2003年12月19日，小泉純一郎內閣通過「關於彈道飛彈防禦系統整備等」決議，決定優先建構以對應彈道飛彈威脅為主的戰力。從日本對應北韓飛彈威脅所採取的措施可以看出，日本的飛彈防禦戰略，是由「預防性防禦」、「嚇阻」以及「防禦」等三項要素所構成，此一飛彈防禦戰略之發展方向，不會因為日本政府輪替而改變。

U.S.-Japanese cooperation on missile defense dates back to the 1980s and
the Reagan administration's Strategic Defense Initiative （SDI）. At that time,Japan's participation in SDI was merely symbolic of U.S.-Japanese security cooperation and helped to mitigate economic and trade disputes with Washington.This changed in August 1998 when North Korea tested its Taepo Dong-1 ballistic missile. Even for the Japanese people, who are generally considered pacifists post-World War II, the Taepo Dong-1 flying over their heads was an alarming wake-up call. Immediately afterward, Tokyo joined Washington in cooperative research and development of a ballistic missile defense system. The revelation that North Korea had continued its work on nuclear weapons development and Pyongyang's subsequent withdrawal from the NPT in 2003 convinced Tokyo to officially acquire a ballistic missile defense capability. Thus, on December 19,2003, it issued the cabinet decision “On Introduction of Ballistic Missile Defense System and Other Measures.” Ever since, establishing a robust missile defense system has been a top national security priority for Japan. This article concluded that Japan’s missile defense strategy consists of three elements including “Preventive Defense”, “Deterrence”, and “Defense”. This strategy has not changed with the change in government.