Tough talk in Japan:
Japan said Monday it was considering whether a pre-emptive strike on the North’s missile bases would violate its constitution, signaling a hardening stance ahead of a possible U.N. Security Council vote on Tokyo’s proposal for sanctions against the regime.Japan was badly rattled by North Korea’s missile tests last week and several government officials openly discussed whether the country ought to take steps to better defend itself, including setting up the legal framework to allow Tokyo to launch a pre-emptive strike against Northern missile sites.
“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-defense. We need to deepen discussion,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said.
As cool as this sounds I believe the Japanese may be talking tough to give us some leverage in our negotiations with China. A reinvigorated Japanese military would scare the bejesus out of everyone in the region. There’s also the question of whether Japan is even capable of carrying out such a strike:
Japanese fighter jets and pilots are not capable of carrying out such an attack, a military analyst said.
“Japan’s air force is top class in defending the nation’s airspace, but attacking another country is almost impossible,” said analyst Kazuhisa Ogawa.
“Even if Japan’s planes made it to North Korea, they wouldn’t make it back … it would be an act of suicide,” he said. “Japan has no capacity to wage war.”
Also Blogging:
Captain Ed
Pajamas Media
Hot Air
Morning Coffee
Red Hot Cuppa Politics
Ace of Spades HQ
Glenn Reynolds
Roger L. Simon
Joe’s Dartblog
Dean Esmay
The Pink Flamingo Bar & Grill
North Korea Agrees to Resume Six-Party Talks
Interesting: North Korea and the United States have agreed to resume the long-stalled six-party talks on Pyongyang’s nuclear issue “as soon as possible,” it was announced here on Wednesday. The...
Statement By The President On North Korea
THE PRESIDENT: “Last night the government of North Korea proclaimed to the world that it had conducted a nuclear test. We’re working to confirm North Korea’s claim. Nonetheless, such a...
North Korea Says Nuke Test Successful
Via CNN: North Korea on Monday claimed it has performed a successful nuclear test, according to that country’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). South Korean government officials also said...
East Sea Tension: Japan and South Korea Feud as North Korean Missiles Fly
War is not breaking out but this Chosun Ilbo article is interesting: South Korean and Japanese vessels faced off near the Dokdo islets early Wednesday morning even as North Korea...
KCNA: North Korea – U.S. Talks Urged
When the KCNA (Pyongyang’s official news agency) runs a story like this it’s a pretty strong sign that they want to talk: Direct Talks between DPRK and U.S. Urged Voices...
Japan Considers Preemptive strike on North Korea
TOKYO (AP) — Japan said Monday it was considering whether a pre-emptive strike on the North’s missile bases would violate its constitution, signaling a hardening stance ahead of a possible U.N. Security Council vote on Tokyo’s proposa…
Japan Considers Strike Against N. Korea
Japan said Monday it was considering whether a pre-emptive strike on the North’s missile bases would
Wrong Hornets’ Nest
It’s unknown whether Kim Jong-Il’s less-than-overwhelming fireworks were meant to serve this particular purpose: “Japan was badly rattled by North Korea’s missile tests last week, and several government officials openly discussed whether the countr…
I agree. Japan feels VERY threatened. That’s why I think that there is a possibility of a nuclear Japan.
http://www.captainsjournal.com/2006/07/09/will-japan-go-nuclear/
If it came down to it, does anyone really think Japanese pilots wouldn’t make a one way trip to take out NK nukes? It’s not exactly unheard of in Japanese military history.
Not Good
Bush would be wise to tell Japan to tone down the military rhetoric. If military action is to be taken against North Korea, it has to be the US or ROK. Japan can’t do anything for the immediate future except stir up old animosity and fears in the res…
A Dormant US Emboldens N. Korea
Since launching a series of missiles less than a week ago, the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Il, has yet to face the promised consequences of his actions. The United States and Japan were particularly vocal in their opposition
don’t provocate to anyone please!!!
don’t go to the war!!!
there are another ways of comprehension
open your mind and soul
sushikan