Japanese Agency Says Japan Should Be Equipped With Preemptive Strike Ability

The Japanese Defense Research Center has asserted that Japan should be equipped with the ability to start an assault in order to prepare for missile launches from North Korea.

In a report titled “2004 East Asia Military Strategies” issued by the research center on March 24, it said that “North Korea will get ready to manufacture more than two uranium enriched nuclear bombs next year,” suggesting the logic of a preemptive strike.

This is the first time a Japanese governmental agency has dealt with the subject of a preemptive strike, officially. As this assertion is directly opposite to the principle of the Japanese constitution, which was designed in accordance with the self-defense rule, heated conflict is being expected.

Stating that North Korea is developing not only a plutonium nuclear weapon but also enriched uranium nuclear bombs, this report anticipates that “around 2005, [North Korea’s] facility for manufacturing uranium nuclear bombs will be put into operation.”

In addition, the report deals with China, Russia, and North Korea as the countries that could launch a ballistic missile assault on Japan, asserting that raised precaution towards these countries is necessary.

As for China, the report assessed that “it is equipped with fifty DF21 ballistic missiles, which can cover 1,800 kilometers, and the portable ballistic missile, DF31, which can reach 8,000 kilometers distance at maximum range, and that will be deployed by the end of this year.”

In addition, the report points out that North Korea is one of the Japan’s intimidators because it is equipped with 175 to 200 ballistic missiles including the Rodong, which can cover 1,300 kilometers together with not only nuclear warheads but also chemical ones.

“Without any other means to wipe out these intimidations if the enemy starts assaulting, we should be equipped with devices to get rid of these intimidations such as missile posts in enemy territory,” stated this report, focusing on the importance of re-armament for the sake of preemptive strike ability.

The Liberal Democratic Party, the leading party of Japanese cabinet, has also consented to the necessity of the ability to attack posts in enemy countries if in necessity, reported Tokyo Shimbun on March 25.

Won-Jae Park parkwj@donga.com