Japan Considers Military Strike Against North Korea
Posted on July 10, 2006
Japan is extremely unhappy with North Korea's recent (and pathetically inept) attempt to launch a test missile. Now Japan is considering a pre-emptive strike on North Korea's missile bases. But first, the country must determine whether such an action is illegal under its constitution.
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.It seems clear that North Korea has really managed to upset Japan's leaders. But intelligence reports so far state that North Korea is in no position to attack anyone. They can't even launch a test missile without it blowing up on the launch pad, apparently. Kim Jong-il is clearly not playing with a full deck. Because no sane world leader wants to be the impetus for a re-militarized, angry Japan."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.
Japan's constitution currently bars the use of military force in settling international disputes and prohibits Japan from maintaining a military for warfare. Tokyo has interpreted that to mean it can have armed troops to protect itself, allowing the existence of its 240,000-strong Self-Defense Forces.
A Defense Agency spokeswoman, however, said Japan has no attacking weapons such as ballistic missiles that could reach North Korea. Its forces only have ground-to-air missiles and ground-to-vessel missiles, she said on condition of anonymity due to official policy.