Japan Considers Preemptive Strike on North Korea

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In Brief... World News Review

Japan Considers Preemptive Strike on North Korea

 by Darris McNeely, Mike Bennett Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

If we accept that there is no other option to prevent an attack... there is the view that attacking the launch base of the guided missiles is within the constitutional right of self-defense.

 

After North Korea's provocative missile tests in early July, Japan said it was considering whether a preemptive strike on North Korea's missile bases would violate its constitution.

According to Mari Yamaguchi (AP, July 10), several government officials openly discussed whether the country ought to take steps to better defend itself, including setting up the legal framework to allow Japan to launch a preemptive strike.

“If we accept that there is no other option to prevent an attack… there is the view that attacking the launch base of the guided missiles is within the constitutional right of self-defense. We need to deepen discussion,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said.

“With all of Japan easily within range of North Korean missiles, an opinion poll conducted by Japan's NHK television showed that 82 percent of respondents in Japan said they felt 'fearful' or 'somewhat fearful' of the seven or more missiles that North Korea shot into the Sea of Japan on July 4,” reported Anthony Faiola in the Washington Post  July 11.

Japan's constitution, written after World War II, prohibits the use of military force, though Japan does maintain a 240,000-strong self-defense force.

However, AP quoted a Japanese Defense Agency spokeswoman as saying Japan has no attacking weapons such as ballistic missiles that could reach North Korea. Its forces only have ground-to-air missiles and ground-to-vessel missiles, she said on condition of anonymity.

For their part, North Korea scoffed at the UN Security Council resolution asking it to quit launching missiles and return to six-party talks. “The vicious, hostile policy of the U.S. and the irresponsibility of the UN Security Council have created an extremely dangerous situation on the Korean Peninsula,” said a North Korean Foreign Ministry statement ( The Week,  July 28, 2006).

—Sources: AP,  The Week,  WashingtonPost.com

Asia World Regions Conflicts and War News and Prophecy

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  Darris McNeely

  Beyond Today Presenter

  Darris McNeely works at the United Church of God home office in Cincinnati, Ohio. He and his wife, Debbie, have served in the ministry for more than 32 years. They have two sons, both married. Darris is the Associate Media Producer for the Church. He also is a guest instructor in Early Church History at the Ambassador Bible College. He enjoys hunting, travel and reading.
  
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  Mike Bennett

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World News and Prophecy: August 2006

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Current Events & Trends: China's worrying military ambitions

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/  or call 1-888-886-8632.

Current Events & Trends: China's worrying military ambitions

article by Jerold Aust, John Ross Schroeder





Are we going to see a new, updated version of World War II's old Axis Powers, with China in the role of principal Asian foe rather than an "Americanized" Japan?



A major feature article in The Sunday Times of London showed that, as its drophead states, "the test of a new missile is heightening concerns over Beijing's arms build-up" ("China's Carrier Killer Unnerves US Navy," March 24, 2013). The article continues, "China has successfully tested a 'carrier killer' missile designed to change the military balance of power in Asia by deterring American aircraft carrier operations up to 1,250 miles from Chinese shores."



Clearly the Chinese military has its aggressive generals. China's Liberation Army Daily opts for an end to "romantic pacifism" and urges "full preparation" for war. A headline in The Wall Street Journal reads, "For Xi, a 'China Dream' of Global Military Power" (Jeremy Page, March 14). The article that follows presents new Communist Party and military chief Xi Jinping as appearing to embrace the hawkish worldview of the nation's generals.



Are we going to see a new, updated version of World War II's old Axis Powers, with China in the role of principal Asian foe rather than an "Americanized" Japan? In World War II the Japanese army invaded China. Will the reverse occur in the future? Time will tell.



Isn't it troubling that the Republic of China holds so many billions of American dollars in its own treasury? Why is America being challenged on so many fronts today—military, economic and otherwise? What is America doing wrong? The answer, as revealed in the Bible, is clearly revealed in the Bible study aid The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy . (Sources: The Sunday Times [London], The Wall Street Journal. )

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In Brief... World News Review: Japan Considers Preemptive Strike on North Korea

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/  or call 1-888-886-8632.

In Brief... World News Review: Japan Considers Preemptive Strike on North Korea






article by Darris McNeely, Mike Bennett





If we accept that there is no other option to prevent an attack... there is the view that attacking the launch base of the guided missiles is within the constitutional right of self-defense.







After North Korea's provocative missile tests in early July, Japan said it was considering whether a preemptive strike on North Korea's missile bases would violate its constitution.



According to Mari Yamaguchi (AP, July 10), several government officials openly discussed whether the country ought to take steps to better defend itself, including setting up the legal framework to allow Japan to launch a preemptive strike.



"If we accept that there is no other option to prevent an attack... there is the view that attacking the launch base of the guided missiles is within the constitutional right of self-defense. We need to deepen discussion," Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said.



"With all of Japan easily within range of North Korean missiles, an opinion poll conducted by Japan's NHK television showed that 82 percent of respondents in Japan said they felt 'fearful' or 'somewhat fearful' of the seven or more missiles that North Korea shot into the Sea of Japan on July 4," reported Anthony Faiola in the Washington Post July 11.



Japan's constitution, written after World War II, prohibits the use of military force, though Japan does maintain a 240,000-strong self-defense force.



However, AP quoted a Japanese Defense Agency spokeswoman as saying Japan has no attacking weapons such as ballistic missiles that could reach North Korea. Its forces only have ground-to-air missiles and ground-to-vessel missiles, she said on condition of anonymity.



For their part, North Korea scoffed at the UN Security Council resolution asking it to quit launching missiles and return to six-party talks. "The vicious, hostile policy of the U.S. and the irresponsibility of the UN Security Council have created an extremely dangerous situation on the Korean Peninsula," said a North Korean Foreign Ministry statement ( The Week, July 28, 2006).



—Sources: AP, The Week, WashingtonPost.com

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