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.

[sam_paine]

The S. Koreans have the most to loose

Not true. America has the most firepower to let loose on the N. Koreans. The S. Koreans have the most to lose.

I like our language. Let's keep it.

[chuckles]

If you look long enough, you can find where I might have missed a double capital letter or two also. I have trouble with fat fingers and I have sped up the keyboard repeat speed so I can move the cursor faster. I guess that makes my ideas of no value.

Or maybe the spelling police need to get therapy so they can have a life like everyone else.

Some common chuckles mistakes might be ,tgat, teh, THat, THe, choose, loose, and when very excited, looose. I can feel your blud presure rising, yuo cant stand it. its overcuming your MInd. you are feeling kweezy and about too upchuck. Yur hands are sweaty and your tHroat is tighteneing. TUrn off teh monitor now or you will dye@!!

[Thombo2]

"The USA isn't ready for a woman president yet."How about Condi for VP?After that who knows?

[ichabod1]

Condi Rice is as likely to be president as Hillary, which is, not. The USA isn't ready for a woman president yet.

Neither of them is a particularly good option. That couldn't be the reasonwhy, could it, rather than their gender? I'd vote for a woman if the right one was out there.

[ichabod1]

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

Who asked "Did we surrender when the Nazis bombed Pearl Harbor?"

[CatoRenasci]

I agree that the Chinese are more concerned about Japan - about whose ruthlessness China harbors no illusions - than they are about the 'paper tiger' they regard the US as.

For my part, as glad as I am that the US and Japan are working closely together, I regard the notion of serious Japanese rearmament with a concern born of having grown up in the '50s knowing surviors of the Bataan Death March and the other Pacific campaigns and of having read a good deal about Japan, its culture, and history.

Be careful what you wish for, you may just get it!

[alarm rider]

You are correct about the ROK becoming soft and leftist leaning.

If the baloon goes up, the ROK will be about as valuable in a political sense as spit. The ROK forces are fairly reliable, but IMO the fire is not there to defend their country as long as they think the US will do the job for them, and in the present climate of appeasement towards the North.

Also, were it up to me, which you can be sure it never will be, I would move all US troops back from the DMZ to defensive positions and let the ROK troops take over the DMZ. This would get our people out of the way in case the NK's decided to stage a demonstration of infantry and artillery as a statement of agression. This would also send a clear message to the leadership of the ROK.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #66

I am wary of Japanese as any others. Indeed, one of my main beef about Kim Jong-il is, in addition to his brutal dictatorship, to provide nice pretext for rearmament of Japan, by continuing his nuclear/missile blackmail. He may extend his regime for a few more years this way, but changes long-term geopolitical landscape of E. Asia irreversibly. I would shoot him one hundred times and may watch blood pouring out one hundred bullet holes, but I doubt that I would regret it.

[DTogo]

'Bout time Japan woke up!

Japan * ping * (kono risuto ni hairitai ka detai wo shirasete kudasai : let me know if you want on or off this list)

[markoman]

Pat Buchanan made what I thought was interesting point in his column today,that China,who has asked Kim Jong Il repeatedly to not launch more missiles,may not have the clout the world believes it has.

[sam_paine]

Chuckles! I get it! You're funny!

I encourage you to correct my mistakes, as well.

You do realize that common usage is used by Webster etal to determine new definitions/spellings, don't you?

Therefore, I'd rather torque you off than to have the language continuously devolve into some Mixteca blob. Besides, if it was just a typo you wouldn't be so "snippy about it."

Chuckle! It's good for you.

[Stand W]

Admiral Yamato, (Japanese)

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I forgot the irony tags.

[ASOC]

China, no. All of Asia, yes.

You cannot forget history. The second the Japs launch a cruise missile or two to take out the hard launch sites, their Navy had better all be deployed and at battle stations.

NO one has forgotten the brutal occupation of Corea (In Rio Linda, Korea)and China by the Japs at the start of the 20th century.

The shadows of the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity sphere still linger....even here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_East_Asia_Co-Prosperity_Sphere

[gogeo]

Pat Buchanan made what I thought was interesting point in his column today,that China,who has asked Kim Jong Il repeatedly to not launch more missiles,may not have the clout the world believes it has.

Perhaps not, but they can't have it both ways. Maybe they can't back Chia Dictator back, but they can certainly get out of the way of a strong response on the Security Council. Same with Pootie poot

[NorseWood]

Over a year ago there was a plan to air-drop small radios into North Korea's countryside so that the people could listen to something other than the NK propaganda. That sounds like a good idea to try again. I think that if rafts loaded with weapons were to wash up on the beaches of NK on a dark, moonless night, they might find a use by some of the starving villagers who do necessarily support the chia munchkin.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

"China,who has asked Kim Jong Il repeatedly to not launch more missiles,may not have the clout the world believes it has."
Who knows what China is telling Lil Kim in private?

[The Lion Roars]

Japan lacks capability to do this. This is probably domestic posturing. They are preparing the ground to rewrite their pacifist constitution. Looks like the Sun is going to rise again!!

[RDTF]

I wonder if we would let it fly or shoot it down

[markoman]

True.