WASHINGTON Ñ Japan has relayed its intention to increase its investment in missile defense research with the United States.

The increase is regarded as an important step in the U.S. effort to forge international cooperation for a missile defense umbrella led by Washington. The Pentagon regards Japan as a key participant in an effort to protect U.S. allies in East Asia from attacks from North Kora.

Officials said the Japanese government has requested a defense budget increase for next year.

The money would include about $60 million for a joint study with the United States of a missile defense system that would protect Japan and other U.S. allies in East Asia. The umbrella would include South Korea.

In 1999, Japan and the United States signed an accord for joint research and development in missile defense. Tokyo has kept the program low profile out of concern of angering either China or North Korea.

Later this month, the defense chiefs of Japan and the United States are expected to meet in Washington. The meeting will discuss a plan for U.S. military cooperation in any attack on Japan.

In a related development, the Pentagon continues to award U.S. universities contracts in connection with missile defense programs. The University of Southern Mississippi has been awarded a $20,000 increment as part of a $6.5 million contract for research on material needed for space, air and missile defense programs.

The research effort seeks to adapt polymer, composite, and nanocomposite materials technologies for missile defense programs as well as adapt polymer-dispersed crystals formed under holographic conditions to enhance adaptive optics, tunable diffractive optics and laser hardening.

The contractor is the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command in Huntsville, Ala.

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