Japan's Defense Ministry has deployed Self-Defense Forces personnel in Okinawa and on other southwestern islands ahead of North Korea's announced rocket launch.
The deployment is primarily aimed at preparing for debris falling from the rocket into Japanese territory.
But the move is also seen as part of the ministry's attempt to strengthen the region's defense capabilities as decided in a defense guideline issued in fiscal 2011.
In view of China's military buildup, the ministry plans to station about 100 coastal monitoring troops on the island of Yonaguni in Okinawa Prefecture, and several hundred troops on Ishigaki or Miyako, islands southwest of Okinawa.
But some Okinawa residents strongly oppose the stationing, as the prefecture suffered huge civilian casualties in World War Two ground battles.
The government appears to be trying to ease such opposition by showing that the deployment is aimed at protecting residents from the rocket.
Tuesday, April 03, 2012 19:17 +0900 (JST)
1. deployed 配置する、配備する
防衛関連でよく使われる単語ですね
2. aimed at～ ～を目的とする
ex. This exam is aimed at checking your English Level.
3. debris 瓦礫、破片
北朝鮮からのロケット発射によって生じるdebrisのことです。
4. casualties 被害者、死傷者
dead peopleやinjured peopleと同意義です。victimsと表現してもいいですね。
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120403_25.html