Japan vows to boost missile defense after North Korea parade
12 October, 2020
Japan vowed on Monday (Oct 12) to bolster its missile deterrence capacity to react to threats by North Korean weapons that have become "more varied and complex", as displayed during Pyongyang's military parade over the weekend.
North Korea, marking the 75th anniversary of its ruling party on Saturday, paraded many different weapons systems, unveiling what were an intercontinental ballistic missile that is larger than the North’s known ICBMs.
It also displayed what was likely an upgraded version of a missile which can be fired from submarines.
While some specialists say the weapons could have been mock-ups of missiles under development, the exhibits appear to signify North Korea's continuous upgrading of its weapons capabilities during stalled nuclear diplomacy with the US.
“In order to react to threats that are diversifying and complex, we will firmly work to strengthen our comprehensive missile deterrence capability,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told a normal news conference on Monday. “We recognize that some of those missiles are said to make it difficult for us to respond with our conventional equipment.”
Kato declined to give details on Japan's analysis of the missiles displayed by North Korea. He said only that Japan would continue steadily to cooperate with the US and other concerned countries to safeguard the Japanese people.
Under the practically eight-year tenure of hawkish former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan expanded its military's international role under the Japan-US alliance, amid growing threats from North Korea and China.
Tokyo has repeatedly called both countries threats to its regional security and is currently studying a significant change to its missile deterrence policy that would include the opportunity of developing a first-strike capability on enemy bases to guard against imminent attacks.
Abe's successor, Yoshihide Suga, and his government are anticipated to compile a fresh missile plan later this season.
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