The Japanese government has also been searching for effective measures to respond to North Korea's consistently insincere attitude on regional and bilateral issues, including the abduction cases. Militarily, Japan revised its law on the Self-Defense Forces to establish procedures for ballistic missile defense, with a strong focus on North Korea.
The decision, coming at the Cabinet's regular meeting on Feb. 15, was not intended to coincide with Kim's 63rd birthday the following day. But it did show that Japan's government, having long suspected that North Korea already possessed nuclear weapons, would not be intimidated into a fundamental policy change by confirmation of the threat.
The revision establishes the future direction of Japan's military posture by delegating greater authority to the commanders of the Self-Defense Forces to initiate defensive actions against immediate threats. According to South Korean news reports, in addition to its existing mid-range Nodong missiles, North Korea has improved its Scud missiles, extending their range to reach Japan's main islands. If North Korea is, indeed, continuing to develop not only its nuclear arsenal, but also various types of ballistic missiles, in defiance of international commitments, it is truly a rogue state.
As for the nuclear issue, Japan's policy toward North Korea should continue to emphasize solidifying ties with the US and strengthening cooperation with China, South Korea and Russia, making every effort to promote early resumption of the six-party talks. But dialogue with the Kim regime cannot be an end in itself. Negotiation is necessary, and it must be sufficient, but progress will be impossible if North Korea is allowed to turn its mere participation in the talks into a bargaining chip.
Hideaki Kaneda, retired vice admiral of Japan's Self Defense Forces, is currently director of the Okazaki Institute.
Copyright: Project Syndicate
RSS