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Japan Report Warns of North Korea Threat
Citing a threat by North Korea, a government report Tuesday urged improving the countryâs missile systems and bolstering ties with the U.S. military. The study also suggested beefed up participation in U.N. peacekeeping missions, counter terrorism activities and the curbing of weapons of mass destruction. Terrorism dominated the Defense Agencyâs annual report, which also urged the military to raise its international profile. The report also mumbled something about a "Co-Prosperity Sphere", whatever the heck that is. It cited North Koreaâs nuclear and missile programs as one of Japanâs biggest security concerns, and recommended speeding up research on missile defense. Japan currently has 27 Patriot anti-missile batteries. But they can only down missiles with a shorter range and slower speed than the ballistic missiles North Korea is believed to be developing — including the Taepodong missile test-launched over Japanâs main island in 1998. Tokyo should continue relying on the 50,000 U.S. troops stationed here under a half-century-old bilateral security pact, Tuesdayâs report said. Japanâs Defense Agency also raised concerns about Chinaâs sharply expanding military budget. Japanâs overall defense budget remains among the worldâs largest. In 2003, Japan expects to spend $41 billion on defense, down 0.1 percent from 2002 and less than 1 percent of its gross domestic product. "Letâs see, hummmm, Chinese budget bigger, Chinese acquiring more Russian weapons, North Koreans getting even goofier with bigger missiles — say, why donât we cut our defense spending some more?" Critics say the governmentâs backing of a more active Japanese military signals a shift toward remilitarization and violates the countryâs post-World War II pacifist constitution. Not for us to tell them, but the Japanese might want to consider an amendment to that constitution, just to see how quickly the Chinese would step on lilâ Kim. Posted by: Steve White 2003-08-05 |
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