News In Brief

Japan says Soviets adding 3 missile bases in Far East

The Soviet Union is building three new launch bases for SS-20 medium-range nuclear missiles in the Far East, a Japanese Defense Ministry official said Tuesday. The new bases, whose location was not given, would increase the number of SS-20s in the Soviet Far East from 108 to 135. Japan has demanded the removal of the missiles, but Moscow says they are needed to counter US nuclear weapons in Asia and the Pacific.