New York, April 30 (RHC)-- Japan has agreed to new military cooperation with the United States in which it will come to the aid of U.S. forces under threat and further expand ties on cyber, space and industrial operations given rising Chinese defense capabilities.

The new U.S.-Japan military guidelines were unveiled in New York City during bilateral negotiation in which U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Secretary of State John Kerry held talks with their Japanese counterparts Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida.

The updated military pact is further expected to lead to a greater global presence for Japan's military, including the deployment of minesweepers to the Middle East.

The senior American defense official, who spoke to reporters ahead of the signing, described the agreement as a "very big event" that "redefines how Japan operates as a military partner around the globe," the U.S.-based Defense News reported.

Under the new pact, Japan will be able to defend regional allies that come under attack, "a change that means Japanese missile defense systems could be used to intercept any weapons launched toward the United States -- notable, given its close proximity to North Korea, the report added, while referring to Pyongyang as a "growing threat" to regional stability.