North Korean Atomic Tests Lift Lid on Japan’s Nuclear ‘Taboo’

[bananas]

Source: Bloomberg

North Korea’s nuclear test and missile launches have Japan confronting a topic long off-limits: acquiring atomic weapons of its own.

“The threat is elevated and Japan should seek to arm itself with nuclear weapons,” former Japanese air force chief Toshio Tamogami said in one of two recent interviews. “North Korea will keep testing until they develop nuclear missiles that can reach the U.S.”

His nonconformist message, delivered in speeches and a weekly television show that began this month, reflects a reappraisal of how Japan should defend itself against North Korea, as well as China’s growing military might. Ruling party lawmakers now are calling for a more aggressive interpretation of the nation’s pacifist constitution, designed to reassure Asian neighbors that suffered under Japanese wartime oppression.

<snip>

Gen Nakatani, 51, a ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker in the Diet’s lower house, this week said that Japan should have the capability to conduct pre-emptive strikes, possibly including cruise missiles on board navy ships, because “North Korea poses a serious and realistic threat.” That would challenge a policy of only having non-offensive weapons.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=aXh3PWpXzEk0&refer=asia

[Turbineguy]

1. I do not think that

acquiring nuclear weapons will deter North Korea.

May I suggest giving North Korean government officials nice discounts at psychiatric hospitals instead?

[bananas]

2. This is all because of Bush administration policies. nt

[Raskolnik]

3. While Bush didn't exactly improve the situation on the Korean peninsula,

I'm not sure you can really say that the present situation is "because" of his policies.

[LanternWaste]

4. To an extent, I think we can...

After the IAEA discovered a weapons program being birthed in NK in 91-92, Pres Clinton initiated successful talks with NK-- and even though NK had announced its intentions to withdraw from the Nonproliferation Treaty, the issue was circumvented when Pres. Clinton and NK signed the Agreed Framework under which Pyongyang committed to freezing its illicit plutonium weapons program in exchange for two proliferation-resistant nuclear reactors and additional aid.

Bush specifically suspended talks with NK in March of 2001, and although he later expressed a willingness to go back to the table, three days later, he named NK a member of his "axis of evil", and linked continuance of the talks to other, irrelevant issues.

[Blue Meany]

7. Well, that seems to have been the opinion of Donald Gregg,

who has diplomatic experience in North Korea and worked for Bush I. He gave a speech in the first term of Bush II, in which he talke about his communications with his contacts in the NK government who couldn't understand what GW was up to, and were truly afraid that the US would invade. That is why the have pursued a nuclear program, and according to Gregg, what they wanted to discontinue it was a binding committment that the US would not take military action gains them. But, you may recall, Bush didn't wnat to talk to them, which is no doubt why they were trying to use Gregg and probably others to communicate with the administrtion.

[ohio2007]

5. Liberal Democratic Party agreed to propose that Japan "take out" enemy bases

LDP panel largely agrees on proposing ability to hit enemy bases
A defense panel of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party largely agreed Tuesday to propose that Japan acquire the capability to take out enemy bases under new National Defense Program Guidelines.

The proposal, which is in large measure a response to North Korea's nuclear test on Monday and its April 5 rocket launch, is likely to be controversial given that some government officials and lawmakers have expressed reservations about making the leap.


http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstStory/index.php?storyid=440937

[roamer65]

6. Japan should develop nukes and remilitarize.

We can't defend them forever and I don't really think they want to have to follow the dictates of Beijing.

[bananas]

8. No - nuclear weapons are the biggest threat to civilization.

See http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x185354
and http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=185354&mesg_id=185468
and http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=185354&mesg_id=185604

[SpartanDem]

9. We don't need any more nuclear states

in this world. Not to mention, if NK does step out of line we have enough nukes ourselves that we can turn the country into a parking lot.

[anonymous171]

10. NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO. nt