February 8, 2016
After North Korea announced a plan to launch a “rocket”, the Japanese government put the anti-ballistic missile system on high alert as if attempting to attract public support by displaying its defense capabilities.
North Korea on February 2 announced that it will launch a “rocket” to send an “earth observation satellite” into orbit above the earth, which is banned by UN Security Council resolutions as it involves ballistic missile technologies. According to Pyongyang, the “rocket” will fly above Okinawa’s Sakishima Islands, around 2,000 km southwest of Tokyo.
As the Japanese government measures to respond to the announcement, the Air Self-Defense Force deployed the PAC-3 anti-missile attack missiles in two locations in the Sakishima Islands as well as two other locations on the main island of Okinawa around 300 km away from Sakishimas and three locations in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Apparently the deployment of the missile defense system near Tokyo has more to do with SDF promotion than national security.
In the first place, the flight route of the North Korean “rocket” was beyond the reach of the PAC-3 system. The Defense Ministry says that the attack range of the missile interception system is up to several tens of kilometers in height while North Korea on February 7 said its “satellite” rocket booster flew 500 km above the Sakishima Islands.
In addition, citing the need to prepare for emergency, the government dispatched the Ground SDF special units not only to Sakishima’s Tarama Island located right under the proclaimed flight route, but also to the islands of Miyako, Ishigaki, and Yonaguni though these islands are 20-150 km away from Tarama Island. This move can be regarded as part of government efforts to have the islanders become accustomed to the presence of the military, given that Tokyo plans to permanently deploy SDF units to Miyako, Ishigaki, and Yonaguni islands to counteract pressure from China.
Defense Minister Nakatani Gen on February 7 said that he will decide whether to permanently deploy the PAC-3 system on the Sakishima Islands after seeing what Pyongyang will do.
The Japanese government poured more than 1.3 trillion yen to counter-missile projects between 2004 and 2015 and is considering developing another missile defense system. Such a provocative stance can lead Japan into a vicious cycle of larger defense budgets and higher military tensions with North Korea.
North Korea on February 2 announced that it will launch a “rocket” to send an “earth observation satellite” into orbit above the earth, which is banned by UN Security Council resolutions as it involves ballistic missile technologies. According to Pyongyang, the “rocket” will fly above Okinawa’s Sakishima Islands, around 2,000 km southwest of Tokyo.
As the Japanese government measures to respond to the announcement, the Air Self-Defense Force deployed the PAC-3 anti-missile attack missiles in two locations in the Sakishima Islands as well as two other locations on the main island of Okinawa around 300 km away from Sakishimas and three locations in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Apparently the deployment of the missile defense system near Tokyo has more to do with SDF promotion than national security.
In the first place, the flight route of the North Korean “rocket” was beyond the reach of the PAC-3 system. The Defense Ministry says that the attack range of the missile interception system is up to several tens of kilometers in height while North Korea on February 7 said its “satellite” rocket booster flew 500 km above the Sakishima Islands.
In addition, citing the need to prepare for emergency, the government dispatched the Ground SDF special units not only to Sakishima’s Tarama Island located right under the proclaimed flight route, but also to the islands of Miyako, Ishigaki, and Yonaguni though these islands are 20-150 km away from Tarama Island. This move can be regarded as part of government efforts to have the islanders become accustomed to the presence of the military, given that Tokyo plans to permanently deploy SDF units to Miyako, Ishigaki, and Yonaguni islands to counteract pressure from China.
Defense Minister Nakatani Gen on February 7 said that he will decide whether to permanently deploy the PAC-3 system on the Sakishima Islands after seeing what Pyongyang will do.
The Japanese government poured more than 1.3 trillion yen to counter-missile projects between 2004 and 2015 and is considering developing another missile defense system. Such a provocative stance can lead Japan into a vicious cycle of larger defense budgets and higher military tensions with North Korea.
