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.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Well, I am sure Chinese take notice.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[Moonman62]

Yep, a lot of countries in the region wouldn't like it.

[GSlob]

While considering the acceptability, one needs to consider feasibility as well. The targets are protected. The easiest way to take them out [short of massive manned effort which would need a lot of equipment and be very risky] would be rocketry nuking.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #4

Rodong's are on mobile launcher,and Taepodong is launched on the fixed surface launcher. We also know where these missiles are made. Key production facilities are near Pyongyang. They can be all taken down by air strikes or conventional missile attacks.

[GSlob]

The facilities need to be not "taken down" but destroyed beyond any salvage or repair. Conventional attack to obliterate a large plant would need quite a lot.

[Southack]

Taiwan just test-launched its new medium-range missile. India just test-launched its new long-range missile. The U.S. just parked a few of its many anti-missile AEGIS ships on both sides of North Korea, and now Japan is rattling its saber about attacking North Korea.

Perfection. This is how global diplomacy is pursued by adults. No kow-towing. No appeasement.

Talks on the one hand, military force on the other.

How refreshing to see global coordination against North Korea (e.g. 13 nations boarding NK's ships) rather than Madeline Halfbright-style concessions.

Life is good!

[chuckles]

Anyway you look at it, It's time for some help from someone besides the USA. I for one am tired of fighting every battle out there. The S. Koreans have the most to loose, and the Japs next. Bush has quite enough on his plate right now.

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.

As a bonus, maybe China;s economy would slow, allowing us to buy some of their gas at a cheaper price. Right now, if we cut back and try to save gas money, we just allow them to buy the gas we should be using cheaper for themselves.

[nopardons]

As they are meant to.

[nopardons]

Spot on!

[zarf]

Perfection. This is how global diplomacy is pursued by adults. No kow-towing. No appeasement.

You bet your life brother. Bush is the puppet master.

These last 2 years are going to be interesting. I am convinced he's determined to wrap up his administration with a neutered axis of evil.

I'm going to miss this when Hillary is President.

[nopardons]

Hillary will NEVER be president again!

[Mo1]

True .. but she will be the hand in the puppet

[nopardons]

Maybe she will be and then again, maybe she will NOT be. :-)

[Mo1]

Time will tell

The hard core socialists are trying to break free of her .. but she's not giving up the fight to easily

[BigSkyFreeper]

I'd like to think she'd have a hand in destroying her own political career.

She's not as smart and powerful as the media portrays her to be.

[The Red Zone]

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

[Republican Wildcat]

Japan could send a clear message by repealing Article 9 of their Constitution. It is now outdated - Japan has fully modernized and is no longer vulnerable to becoming a dictatorial, military regime again, bent on building an empire.

[nopardons]

That it shall.

The faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar lefties don't want her, if there are any real moderates left, they don't want her, and at this point, it appears as though the only Dems who want her, are the ones who would get jobs from her, should she actually win the Dem primary and run for president. Those old kneepads are in shreds, but they still strap them on.

[Mo1]

She's not as smart and powerful as the media portrays her to be

sneaking, manipulative and conniving ... yes

Smart .. no