Japan threatens to engage missile defense; shoot down N. Korean missile in Mid-April

Yahoo! Japan News (in Japanese) rush, w/out transation ^ | 17 March 2012 | Yomiuiri Shimbun via Yahoo!Japan

[AmericanInTokyo]

Rush-- w/out translation.

Japan is threatening North Korea with deploying and activating its own Missile Defense (MD) system, and shooting down the North Korean ICBM test launched scheduled from between 12 April and 16 April, a move stunningly announced by Pyongyang news sources yesterday and creating considerable tension in Northeast Asia suddenly.

No time to do an English translation now but am linking the breaking Japan story in Japanese. Will synopsize later, but wanted to get the thread and linked article up ASAP.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Japan states that:

a) North Korean intent to launch an intercontinential missile of this sort (though the North claims it will be an orbital satellite which is a lie) is a direct violation of the UN Security Council agreements, is a threat to Japan, and they will take now consider appropriate countermeasures against the DPRK and Kim Jong Un.

Further reports today Japanese Government convening strategy sessions and considering placement of PAC-III batteries within range of this southward-trajectory intended Taepodong 3 ICBM, to deal with this threat. Coordination no doubt is also taking place with US Forces Japan over this situation. Will attempt to get more.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Japanese TV today with a report (at this link, hit white arrow to stream) detailing movements by the Japanese Prime Minister to consider deploying PAC-3 Missile Batteries in advance of this latest DPRK threat, and shoot down launch vehicle down, if necessary.

HERE

[Oldexpat]

The US plans to mothball some AEGIS Cruisers. Maybe we should just offer them to Japan..somebody who has the balls to use them.

[Strategerist]

PATRIOT PAC-3s are completely incapable of engaging an ICBM; they’d only be effective against a short to medium range missile, and in terminal defense (if the missile was fired at the specific site of the missile in Japan).

Aegis BMD is incapable of boost phase defense against an ICBM and again would only be effective against a missile that was at least approaching Japan so this is all a Japanese bluff, really, though I guess the story if fragmentary.

If it is in fact an orbital launch, or a longe range ICBM test, there’s nothing the Japanese can intercept the missile with.

[combat_boots]

Thank you. Keep us posted, AIT

[Strategerist]

Just to elaborate if it is an orbital launch or ICBM test, EVEN if the trajectory passes over Japan, the Japanese cannot intercept it.

[eclecticEel]

announced by Pyongyang news sources

Yeah, let's hold off on taking any of this as gospel truth just yet.

[hoagy62]

Okay...anything in the AO that CAN shoot it down?

[AmericanInTokyo]

Japan has the capability, what with the JS Kongo, JS Chokai, JS Myoko, and in 2010 the JS Kirishima, (Konggo class AEGIS ships, etc), combined with their own PAC-3 missiles), and they are trained. highly motivated when it comes to defense of the mother island, and willing to use them against little Kim Jong Un), as well as Japan airborne defense system assets which can be deployed. DPRK better realize what they are playing with here, I don't know if junior in Pyongyang fully gets it yet, and considering possible assassination attempts on him, he is under the gun to do something dramatic to cement himself as a leader, even at 28 years old. This could be forseen as a component of dynastic regime change up there... I expect little cooperation from Obama to Japan on this issue, and if I must, I privately will tell all whom I can here to not rely on my own President, as much as it pains me as an American to say it. I will give them the straight line. Obama cannot be relied upon 100%, Japan (and South Korea), or more or less on their own.

[hoagy62]

Obama cannot be relied upon 100%, Japan (and South Korea), or more or less on their own.

I have a gut feeling the heads of both countries already are aware of that sad fact.

[mkjessup]

Greetings AiT!

Thanks as always for your ahead-of-the-curve reports on events like this, have you picked up on a general mood shift in the overall public perception of these developments? In less fancy-speak, "how are the natives?"

And a very slight edit to your words, hope you don't mind?

Obama cannot be relied upon 100% [not even 10%, mkj], Japan (and South Korea), or more or less on their own.

Take care, stay safe!

[doorgunner69]

You seem to be up on the Aegis BMD capability. i am out of the loop these days.

That said, the Japanese are very good at improving on existing tech with indigenous ideas, as they have done with the F-15. I will be quite interested in what they might do to pee of the Norks.....................

[Ronin]

I am not too sure on that. We know what we have sold to Japan, but we don’t know what kind of improvements Japan has made to the stuff we have sold them, or all about the goodies they have worked up on their own.

Missile defense is a very serious Japanese defense bugaboo. They can also be very good at keeping secrets when they want to be.

[Revel]

Obama will say to Japan. “Just wait until after the election”.

[doorgunner69]

Agreed. No one has fully figured out (in uclas literature) what happened to the Long Dong (or whatever) that broke up after crossing Japan.

It is in their interest to not advertise, but I strongly suspect the Japanese are a lot further along than just using what we sold them and not tweaking things. They are far too good to leave things alone.

[Radiated Spam]

Shit is about to hit the fan with China, Iran, north Korea, and Syria!!! Time to reinstate the draft. Welcome tothe the party bi#$hes!! Time to send your sons to combat something the rest of us have been enduring for the last 21eleven years. When shit hits the fan we will see who the real loyal Americans are. It will no longer be somebody else’s son or daughter serving if war with Korea/China breaks out.

[Doofer]

The US plans to mothball some AEGIS Cruisers. Maybe we should just offer them to Japan..somebody who has the balls to use them.

They have there own.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kong%C5%8D_class_destroyer

[doorgunner69]

I watched one of them come up the channel at Pearl Harbor for the Trans-pac thing. The crew are perfectly turned out at the rail (I know squat about swabbie protocol) and even this old Marine was impressed at the ship and crew.

Di not look like something to be trifled with.

That said, it was weird seeing the Japanese flag slowly cruising into Pearl, and on another day, watching a Japanese submarine come in the same way.

[Admin Moderator]

Ya know, you really should consider doing something about the trash pouring out of your mouth. Here's a little

ZOT!

which should make you feel better.

It will also help light the path back to your home under the bridge.

[ConjunctionJunction]

Pfl.