Japanese Prime Minister Kishida mentions ‘reviewing the ability to attack enemy bases’ in North Korea’s missile launch

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that North Korea’s missile launch would be considered “including the ability to attack enemy bases.” Prime Minister Kishida directly mentioned it, following the LDP’s de facto promotion of possessing the ability to attack enemy bases as a promise for the general election (the House of Representatives election) to be held on the 31st.

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun and the Nihon Keizai Shimbun on the 20th, Prime Minister Kishida campaigned in Fukushima the day before, but returned to the prime minister’s residence after North Korea’s ballistic missile launch and presided over the National Security Council (NSC). “The remarkable development of North Korea’s nuclear and missile-related technology cannot be overlooked in relation to the security of our country,” he told reporters after presiding with the NSC. ” he said.

As a result, the possibility that the Japanese government will actually promote the ability to attack enemy bases, which has been discussed in earnest since last year’s Shinzo Abe cabinet, has increased. In the general election promises announced recently by LDP Chairman Jeongjo Takaichi Sanae, he also stated that “we will promote a new response that improves deterrence, including possessing the ability to deter ballistic missiles within the opposing territory.” This effectively means possessing the ability to attack the enemy base. Chairman Jeongjo Takaichi strongly insisted on possessing the ability to attack enemy bases when he ran for president of the LDP with the support of former Prime Minister Abe last month.

It is pointed out that possessing the ability to attack enemy bases means possessing long-range precision strike means, etc., which is contrary to the principle of ‘all-defense’ based on Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, which stipulates that war is abandoned as a means of resolving disputes and does not retain power. are receiving Total defense is the principle that only in the event of an attack can the exercise of defense power be possible. However, as North Korea pursues the development of new weapons such as hypersonic and anomalous orbital missiles, there has been a growing argument within Japan that the conservatives need to possess the ability to attack enemy bases.

On the other hand, the main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, is of the opinion that “a careful review is necessary in light of the constitutional interpretation” regarding the ability to attack enemy bases. Former Administrative Reform Minister Taro Kono, who served as defense minister during the Abe administration, also said, “It is difficult (realistically) to find and destroy a mobile launcher,” he said. It is a controversial policy even within the LDP.

Tokyo = Jinju Choi correspondent pariscom@hankookilbo.com