Japan mulls preemptive stike on N Korea missile bases(gloves off?)

Hindustan Times ^ | 07/10/06

[TigerLikesRooster]

Japan mulls preemptive stike on N Korea missile bases

Associated Press

Tokyo, July 10, 2006

Japan is considering whether a preemptive strike on North Korean missile bases would be an acceptable form of self-defence under the pacifist Japanese constitution, the government spokesman said on Monday.

"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-defence.

We need to deepen discussion," Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said. Abe added that the ruling party might take up the matter internally.

Japan's Constitution currently bars the use of military force in settling international disputes and prohibits Japan from maintaining a military for warfare.

Tokyo, however, has interpreted that to mean it can have armed troops to protect itself.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Monday that the international community must be united in saying that North Korea's missiles launches last Wednesday were wrong, a news report said.

Koizumi told an internal Liberal Democratic Party committee that Japan was working at the UN Security Council to produced a unified global response, Kyodo News agency reported.

"We are responding (to the launches) at the UN Security Council in a way that will enable the international community to unite and say that 'it's wrong for you do such a thing," Koizumi told members of his Liberal Democratic Party, Kyodo News agency reported.

Japan is pushing a UN resolution condemning North Korea for the launches and imposing sanctions on the communist nation.

On Sunday, Defense Agency Chief Fukushiro Nukaga told reporters that Japan needs to move forward on debate over whether having first-strike capabilities would still be within the bounds of the constitution, a news report said.

"It's only natural as an independent country that people should think we ought to have some minimal capability within a fixed framework," Nukaga said, according to Kyodo News agency.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party has long pushed for a constitutional revision to make it easier for its military to fight if the country came under attack.

Tokyo currently interprets the constitution in a way that allows the existence of its 240,000-strong Self-Defence Forces.

[The Red Zone]

The Japanese can be vicious when they wage a war. It's nothing that Chia Head would look forward to.

[Redcloak]

As they probably don't want to see a re-militarized Japan, I imagine that they would indeed take notice.

[silverleaf]

We should "interpose no objection" to a Japanese doctrine of strategic preemption. Especially since the ROK has become la la land regarding their evil cousins in the north.

A re militarized Japan just might help cause China and Russia to curb their enthusiasm for arming Pyongyang and snickering at us while their jackass eater throws sand at all the other kids in the sandbox.

[IrishMike]

Japanese islands total less than the size of California, but with half the population of the United states.
They are the second largest economy, and it would be foolish to sit back while North Korea continues 'testing' long range missiles. Blackmail or aggression on Japan by North Korea, whatever the ploy, the land of the rising sun will have to protect its citizens. The hostilities from North Korea along with the aggression overtly displayed by China in its quest for resources, threaten Japan.
The Japanese realize they can depend on the United States BUT it is also time to step into the batters box. They can easily afford to arm and defend themselves and slow these rogue and despot Nations, that belligerence towards the United States is simply not enough to intimidate Japan, among others.
Less than 24 hours after the N Korean 'tests', Japan imposed additional sanctions, and the very thought and talk of preemptive strike by Japan is something that must horrify China.
Count the days, it will be few, before North Korea starts to listen very attentively to China.

[Gengis Khan]

This is a good idea although I am not sure if pacifist Japan would go ahead with pre-emptive strikes on NK's nuclear installations but they certainly have all the necessary technological and military strength to do the damage. If they do actually go ahead with the pre-emptive strikes there would be a lesson there for India to learn, that can repeat on NK's other ally Pakistan and Iran.

Most importantly it will send a message around all the rogue wannabe nuke powers that they will not get away with nuclear blackmail. Any such attempt will invite massive and real damage, not simply harsh words.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Which Chinese General said, "I fear we have woken a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve."

[LibWhacker]

TORA! TORA! TORA!

Do it.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #26

Wasn't it Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku of Japan,the supreme commander of Imperial Japanese Navy?

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Yeah, but the analogy is apt. The Chinese dream of dominating East Asia when the U.S. bugs out. Problem is, if Japan remilitarizes, they will miss the stability the U.S. brought to the region. Note: next time the Japanese invade Manchuria, we are not going to lift a finger.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #29

China fears Japan more than U.S. China sent out overture to Japan again in a last couple of days, to make up and improve mutual relations. Japan does not owe any money(T-bills) to China, and Japanese business are already moving out of China. Unlike U.S. corporations, Japanese corporations tend to work with its government regarding security matters.

[GAB-1955]

But then North Korea lets loose artillery on Seoul, killing hundreds of thousands. If you're going to start this war, it can't be a surgical strike; it has to be a war of liberation. However, China doesn't want a capitalist, united Korea on its borders, so they won't let the South take it all.

[wolfcreek]

Get our troops out of SK and the Japanese can do what they want. Right now, they're sitting ducks.

[joe fonebone]

see what happens when you piss off the japenese!!!

[Jonah Hex]

"I'm here to kick ass and chew gum... and I'm all out of gum."

[tomzz]

If Japan started arming, and the S. Koreans cut off trade, then the Chinese might start to take notice of the spawn of Satan right at their border. Without China cutting them off, we can only set up defenses against them. America, OTOH, could tell Wally World to find somewhere else to get their crap from. There are many other crap making countries in the world to send our business to.

China could disappear tommorrow and it wouldn't set WalMart back more than a couple of days. Wally's sells food for half of what everybody else does and you can be certain they are not getting food from China.

[Halgr]

This caught me off guard...I didn't think Japan would go this far....

But if they do....I hope we support them.

If China jumps in....wouldn't this be WW3?

Anyone?

[NorCalRepub]

you are correct....one thought though...considering that Japan is a great ally, lose the term "Jap".....it is highly offensive used mainly in WWII and is the same as saying "nigger" really......otherwise, you are spot on..

[sukhoi-30mki]

From what I know,Japan's ability to carry out long range strike missions is pretty limited.Their main strike force is still based on F-4s & their newer,but shorter range F-2s.Their F-15Js are not known to have (officially) any PGM capability.Unless they can do stand-off strikes,any likely attack on North Korea by them alone would be very bloody.That being said,their JMSDF can starve the living daylights out of North Korea.

[From One - Many]

china is treading in deep water, the sharks are gathering
oh......... north korea is the bad one....
china and north korea are treading in deep water, the sharks are gathering

[LibLieSlayer]

You are watching far too much Twilight Zone! hildebeast will NEVER become President...

LLS