Tough talk in Japan:
Japan said Monday it was considering whether a pre-emptive strike on the North’s missile bases would violate its constitution, signaling a hardening stance ahead of a possible U.N. Security Council vote on Tokyo’s proposal for sanctions against the regime.Japan was badly rattled by North Korea’s missile tests last week and several government officials openly discussed whether the country ought to take steps to better defend itself, including setting up the legal framework to allow Tokyo to launch a pre-emptive strike against Northern missile sites.
“If we accept that there is no other option to prevent an attack … there is the view that attacking the launch base of the guided missiles is within the constitutional right of self-defense. We need to deepen discussion,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said.
As cool as this sounds I believe the Japanese may be talking tough to give us some leverage in our negotiations with China. A reinvigorated Japanese military would scare the bejesus out of everyone in the region. There’s also the question of whether Japan is even capable of carrying out such a strike:
Japanese fighter jets and pilots are not capable of carrying out such an attack, a military analyst said.
“Japan’s air force is top class in defending the nation’s airspace, but attacking another country is almost impossible,” said analyst Kazuhisa Ogawa.
“Even if Japan’s planes made it to North Korea, they wouldn’t make it back … it would be an act of suicide,” he said. “Japan has no capacity to wage war.”
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8 Responses
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July 10th, 2006 at 2:18 pm
Japan Considers Preemptive strike on North Korea
TOKYO (AP) — Japan said Monday it was considering whether a pre-emptive strike on the North’s missile bases would violate its constitution, signaling a hardening stance ahead of a possible U.N. Security Council vote on Tokyo’s proposa…
July 10th, 2006 at 3:20 pm
Japan Considers Strike Against N. Korea
Japan said Monday it was considering whether a pre-emptive strike on the North’s missile bases would
July 10th, 2006 at 4:47 pm
Wrong Hornets’ Nest
It’s unknown whether Kim Jong-Il’s less-than-overwhelming fireworks were meant to serve this particular purpose: “Japan was badly rattled by North Korea’s missile tests last week, and several government officials openly discussed whether the countr…
July 10th, 2006 at 5:36 pm
I agree. Japan feels VERY threatened. That’s why I think that there is a possibility of a nuclear Japan.
http://www.captainsjournal.com/2006/07/09/will-japan-go-nuclear/
July 10th, 2006 at 9:09 pm
If it came down to it, does anyone really think Japanese pilots wouldn’t make a one way trip to take out NK nukes? It’s not exactly unheard of in Japanese military history.
July 10th, 2006 at 9:36 pm
Not Good
Bush would be wise to tell Japan to tone down the military rhetoric. If military action is to be taken against North Korea, it has to be the US or ROK. Japan can’t do anything for the immediate future except stir up old animosity and fears in the res…
July 11th, 2006 at 12:56 am
A Dormant US Emboldens N. Korea
Since launching a series of missiles less than a week ago, the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Il, has yet to face the promised consequences of his actions. The United States and Japan were particularly vocal in their opposition
July 12th, 2006 at 8:47 pm
don’t provocate to anyone please!!!
don’t go to the war!!!
there are another ways of comprehension
open your mind and soul
sushikan