Japan’s government yesterday approved the introduction of the US military’s land-based Aegis missile interceptor system, beefing up its defense against “serious” and “imminent” North Korean threats.
The regime in Pyongyang has fired two missiles over Japan this year and has threatened to “sink” the country into the sea.
Last month, North Korea test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile that later plunged into the waters of Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
“North Korea’s nuclear and missile development has entered a new stage of threat that is more serious and imminent to our country’s security,” the government said as it endorsed the introduction of the Aegis Ashore system at a Cabinet meeting.
Japan needs to drastically improve its missile defense, Tokyo added.
Speaking later yesterday at a lecture hosted by Jiji Press, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed to take a hard look at whether the country’s defensive capabilities are sufficient to protect its people.
“While keeping our defense-only policy as the basic premise, I will examine what our defense capability should truly be like while facing up to the severe reality for our country,” he said.
Abe argued that UN sanctions on Pyongyang must be taking effect now and dismissed the view that too much pressure could trigger an “explosion” of violence.
“Thinking that way gives North Korea the maximum bargaining power... What is important is not to give in to North Korea’s bluff,” he said, vowing to keep imposing pressure until Pyongyang begs for dialogue.
Abe also sought cooperation from China to solve the problem.
“As the North Korean issue faces an important phase, the role of China is extremely important,” he said, adding that he wanted to elevate relations with China to “a new level” by reciprocal visits and other exchanges.
Japan plans to introduce the Aegis Ashore system at two locations, covering the entire nation with powerful radars.
The deployment would hand the US ally another layer of defense in addition to the RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 launched by Aegis destroyer vessels and MIM-104F Patriot Advanced Capability 3 missiles.
However, it would take years before the Aegis Ashore system is operational, Japanese officials said.
The contract is yet to be signed with the US and deployment at two locations could cost a total of ￥200 billion (US$1.78 billion), including the cost of building new facilities.
However, officials insisted the new system would boost Japan’s missile defense.
“Naval vessels need to return to their ports regularly for rest and refueling, but if it’s ground deployment, we will be able to operate almost 24-7,” an official said. “We can be on permanent vigilance even when signs [of missile firing] are hard to detect.”
Japan is reportedly planning a record US$46 billion defense budget for the next fiscal year in the face of the North Korean threat.
Japanese Minister of Defense Itsunori Onodera earlier this month said the country also plans to purchase long-range cruise missiles from US firms with a range of about 900km.
The move would be controversial, as Japan’s pacifist constitution bans the use of force as a means of settling international disputes.
A fire caused by a burst gas pipe yesterday spread to several homes and sent a fireball soaring into the sky outside Malaysia’s largest city, injuring more than 100 people. The towering inferno near a gas station in Putra Heights outside Kuala Lumpur was visible for kilometers and lasted for several hours. It happened during a public holiday as Muslims, who are the majority in Malaysia, celebrate the second day of Eid al-Fitr. National oil company Petronas said the fire started at one of its gas pipelines at 8:10am and the affected pipeline was later isolated. Disaster management officials said shutting the
US Vice President J.D. Vance on Friday accused Denmark of not having done enough to protect Greenland, when he visited the strategically placed and resource-rich Danish territory coveted by US President Donald Trump. Vance made his comment during a trip to the Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, a visit viewed by Copenhagen and Nuuk as a provocation. “Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” Vance told a news conference. “You have under-invested in the people of Greenland, and you have under-invested in the security architecture of this
Japan unveiled a plan on Thursday to evacuate around 120,000 residents and tourists from its southern islets near Taiwan within six days in the event of an “emergency”. The plan was put together as “the security situation surrounding our nation grows severe” and with an “emergency” in mind, the government’s crisis management office said. Exactly what that emergency might be was left unspecified in the plan but it envisages the evacuation of around 120,000 people in five Japanese islets close to Taiwan. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has stepped up military pressure in recent years, including
UNREST: The authorities in Turkey arrested 13 Turkish journalists in five days, deported a BBC correspondent and on Thursday arrested a reporter from Sweden Waving flags and chanting slogans, many hundreds of thousands of anti-government demonstrators on Saturday rallied in Istanbul, Turkey, in defence of democracy after the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu which sparked Turkey’s worst street unrest in more than a decade. Under a cloudless blue sky, vast crowds gathered in Maltepe on the Asian side of Turkey’s biggest city on the eve of the Eid al-Fitr celebration which started yesterday, marking the end of Ramadan. Ozgur Ozel, chairman of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), which organized the rally, said there were 2.2 million people in the crowd, but
RSS