missile attacks from countries such as North Korea and Iran. (5) In early 2017, United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) and United States Forces-Korea (USFK) deployed a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to the Korean peninsula in 2017 that is now fully operational. (6) In December 2017, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Cabinet agreed to purchase two United States-made Aegis Ashore batteries to defend against North Korea’s nuclear missile development … a new level of threat to Japan. . (7) Under Secretary of Defense John Rood stated, We are also encouraging our allies and partners in Europe, the Middle East and Near East Asia to acquire missile defense capabilities, and to strengthen missile defense cooperation in order to move towards a more interoperable and integrated missile defense architecture against hostile ballistic and cruise missile threats. . (8) General Vincent Brooks, Commander of United States Forces-Korea stated that Increasing interoperability with [Republic of Korea (ROK)] systems is a key part of improving Alliance missile defense, including program upgrades to the ROK Patriot system and procurement of PAC–3 interceptors. As North Korea continues to improve its missile forces, the ROK-United States Alliance must also continue to expand its BMD capabilities. . (9) General James Dickinson, Commander of United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command, stated that integrating allies into a common and mutually supportive [missile defense] architecture is a critical warfighter priority , and events like the NIMBLE TITAN campaign—the world’s premier strategic and military policy missile defense event— fosters greater confidence in combined missile defenses and provide a means to advance U.S. efforts in collaboration, integration, interoperability, and burden sharing with our allies and partners. . (b) Sense of the Senate It is the sense of the Senate that— (1) the United States should seek additional opportunities, at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels, to