Japan Press Weekly

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2008 January 30 - February 5 [US FORCES]

Aomori Prefecture being turned into stronghold of U.S. missile defense strategy

Three U.S. Army personnel using computers, yelled, “20 minutes to impact.” They demonstrated the process of data processing on the assumption that North Korea fired a ballistic missile towards an area along the Sea of Japan.

The U.S. Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture was opened to the press on January 22.

The Joint Tactical Ground Stations (JTAGS) unit installed beside a runway is a mobile system to process data from ballistic missile early warning satellites (DSP) and calculate impact time and area of impact. The data is sent to units of U.S. forces as well as allied states via the U.S. Pacific Command headquarters in Hawaii.

The fact that U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command Deputy Commander for Operations Seward attended the ceremony celebrating the establishment of the unit showed the importance of this facility.

When this reporter went out of the shelter housing the JTAGS, F-16 fighter jets were taking off. In addition to about 40 F-16s that have taken part in operations in Iraq, Misawa is now equipped with JTAGS. Neglecting the increasing concerns of residents, the U.S. military is strengthening functions of the base.

At the Air Self-Defense Force Shariki base in Aomori Prefecture, the U.S. Army’s X-band early warning radar system was installed in June 2006 as part of the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.

One day at around 3 p.m., U.S. personnel wearing black jackets came out of the base and waved at civilians. They were security guards sent by Chenega Blackwater Solutions, a U.S. private military firm. In the past, controversy broke out when one of them pointed his gun at a photographer who was taking pictures of the base from outside.

The Establishment of the missile defense system in Japan is seen as one of the most important tasks for the Japan-U.S. alliance. In the missile defense program, Aomori Prefecture is being turned into a stronghold to watch East Asia. But, why is Aomori Prefecture so important?

Commander Seward attached importance to the location because a long-range Taepodong missile fired by North Korea in August, 1998 passed over the Tsugaru Straits, which is located between Aomori Prefecture and Hokkaido, and fell into the Pacific Ocean.

Another reason for the U.S. to choose the prefecture is its infrastructure. A reporter with a local newspaper pointed out that Misawa Base provides good logistics support as well as housing facilities built by Japan’s “sympathy budget” and that these have attracted the building of radar facilities.