The recent missiles launches across the Sea of Japan by North Korea have prompted a bold move on the part of the Japanese military.
Any new missiles that will be launched from now on by North Korea will be intercepted and shot down by a Japanese destroyer.
North Korea's dictator just yesterday announced a new series of ballistic missile launches, including an ominous "wait and you'll see what I've got" hint at the possibility of a new nuclear test to show the enhanced capabilities of the North Korean army.
A Rodong middle range missile was in fact launched recently and arced over the Sea of Japan before dropping into the sea. The continued boldness of North Korea and in particular the fact that it often choses to lobby missiles in the area of the Sea of Japan, has frayed the Japanese resolve to keep far and away from conflict.
Although Japan is scheduled to meet with the South Korea in an effort to ease tension, the order to destroy was issued by Japanese defense minister Onodera a few days ago, but was not made public to avoid cancelling the meeting. Although the defence minister has not gone as far as to say he would employ defensive missile batteries, the order to destroy any new missiles launched in the current month still stands.
Although most missile launches by North Korea are believed to be tit for tats when the US or other country intensifies talks or signs agreements with its neighbors Japan and especially South Korea, the young dictator is still an unknown to the western world. There is always fear that the posing and grandstanding might not just be for show and that given the capricious nature of the young leader, the potential for a nuclear or military incident exists and is all too real.
Just recently, young dictator Kim, has expressed his opinion that the rapport with South Korea is becoming increasingly frayed. The rhetoric was accompanied by an exchange of fire at the border and threats of a nuclear test, although not much else was explained beyond the usual rhetoric.
The new type of nuclear test threatened by Kim seems to refer to a uranium based device fitted on a missile. In the past however, when North Korea threatened a nuclear test, one usually did follow, although the details of the explosion are not always clear. What seems to have become clearer however, is the fact that Kim might have switched his nuclear program to uranium because it is more easily concealable during the enrichment process, and because there is an ample supply of uranium in North Korea.
Sourth Korea, for its part, is not sitting idle either. They have ordered tests for missiles that have a range of 800 kms so that it can strike within any part of North Korea. Although South Korea has observed a self imposed ban on ballistic missiles development for a while, the United States has all but given its go ahead to resume arms enhancement.
Although it is not often discussed, the two Koreas have technically been at war since the Korea conflict. That conflict is in detente mode, but North Korea's recent saber rattling could re-ignite the conflict, especially if a missile is tested or there is an incident while the tests are conducted.
Another recent incident, where two drones were found crashed in South Korean territory, caused South Korea concern in terms of what exactly North Korea was trying to obtain when flying the two machines. One of the drones, after South Korean authorities recovered it, was found to have information gathered in a flyover the South Korean presidential palace.
Most military analysts however consider North Korea ineffective militarily, since most of its equipment is obsolete. The only real threat from North Korea would come from its nuclear arsenal, although its ballistic missile range is still very limited.
Source : Codewit News/Economic Times/Asahi Shimbun: 4.5.14
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