LDP lawmaker calls for constitutional revision by using N. Korea's nuclear test as pretext

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LDP lawmaker calls for constitutional revision by using N. Korea's nuclear test as pretext

A Liberal Democratic Party Dietmember publicly sought to use North Korea's nuclear test as a pretext for justifying his call for constitutional revision that will enable Japan to exercise the right of collective self-defense.

Both the prime minister and the defense minister responded to this proposal favorably.

Masuzoe Yoichi, LDP Policy Board chair in the House of Councilors proposed this at the upper house Budget Committee meeting on October 11. Calling for "military sanctions" against North Korea, he asked, "Isn't it unreasonable to assert that Japan can do nothing because of the Constitution even in the event that shots are fired at U.S. forces while inspecting North Korean cargo ships?" He argued that the Japanese military should join with U.S. forces in military action in such an event.

Masuzoe, a former Tokyo University assistant professor, emphasized that it's inappropriate to distinguish the right of collective self-defense from the right of individual self-defense, adding that Japan's Constitution must be revised to enable the use of the right of collective self-defense.

In reply to Masuzoe, Defense Agency Director General Kyuma Fumio said, "There is a gray zone between 'individual' and 'collective' in terms of the right of self-defense. Now, in the event of an attack on an ally's refueling aircraft, an Air Self-Defense Force fighter pilot should be authorized to make a counterattack?"

Referring to a possible attack against U.S. warships on the high seas as well as attacks against British and Australian forces in Iraq, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo stated, "It is the duty of my cabinet to study these cases. It is highly possible for the government, based on the study, to conclude that using arms to respond to outside attacks will not be in violation of the constitutional provision banning the use of the right of collective self-defense."

Arguments that take advantage of North Korea's nuclear test to make it possible for Japan to exercise the right of collective self-defense through constitutional revision have nothing in common with public opinion severely condemning North Korea for its outrages.
-Akahata, October 12, 2006