Japan Press Weekly

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2017 October 18 - 24 [POLITICS]

Abe himself with his support for Trump’s preemptive strike remarks could bring about 'national crisis'

Akahata 'current' column

Over the issue of North Korea, a shootdown incident that occurred in 1969 is drawing attention anew. A U.S. reconnaissance airplane on April 15 forty-eight years ago after taking off from the U.S. Atsugi base (Kanagawa Pref.) was shot down by North Korean fighters over the Sea of Japan. All 31 American crewmembers on board were killed. The U.S. administration began discussing several options to retaliate against North Korea. Declassified U.S. documents released in 2010 by a U.S. research institute sheds light on what transpired at that time.

According to a published confidential memorandum (Jun. 25, 1969) sent from the then U.S. Defense Secretary to the national security advisor, more than 25 operation plans came under discussion. Among them was a nuclear strike codenamed "Freedom Drop" aimed at destroying North Korea's air bases by using 10-70 kiloton warheads. In the end, the U.S. decided not to implement this horrific scenario for fear of an all-out war.

The U.S. online magazine "Slate" on September 27 covered this story of 1969 in which it warns that at present with both the United States and North Korea continuing their vitriolic exchanges, "[A] skirmish, a misperception, or an untimely false alarm could trigger a conflict, which could widen into a devastating war."

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo supports the position of President Trump who said, "All options are on the table," and even alludes to support for the U.S. preemptive use of force. Abe says Japan is facing a "national crisis" amid threats from North Korea. However, it is he himself wanting to stay in power who could very well bring about a national crisis.