Japan considers shooting down North Korean rocket, if it flies near Japan

[Major Shaitan Singh]

Believing that North Korea is highly likely to launch a “satellite” as previously announced, the government has started considering intercepting the rocket if it flies toward Japan, according to government officials.

If this were to occur, the government would be expected to issue a shootdown order to the Self-Defense Forces based on the Self-Defense Forces Law.

North Korea said Friday that it will launch a “rocket” mounted with an earth observation satellite in mid-April.

The government plans to demand North Korea cancel the satellite launch plan, in cooperation with the United States, South Korea and China, concluding that the launch would violate a U.N. Security Council resolution.

“We’ll strongly seek self-restraint” from North Korea, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said during his meeting Friday with Laos Prime Minister Thogsing Thammavong.

Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba also told reporters the same day at the Foreign Ministry that Japan had held talks with the United States, South Korea and China on the issue.

“We share the common goal [of seeking North Korea's self-restraint],” he said.

The timing of North Korea’s announcement came as a “surprise” to the Japanese government, one government official said.

Many government officials had believed North Korea would not take provocative actions for the time being, given that the country had agreed with the United States in February to implement a moratorium on its uranium-enrichment activities and long-range missile launches in exchange for U.S. food aid, according to sources.

At an emergency meeting of senior officials Friday evening, the Defense Ministry acknowledged it would cooperate with U.S. forces to carefully analyze the launchpad and keep a close eye on activities around the expected launch site through satellites and other means.

“I instructed [ministry officials] to thoroughly conduct information gathering and surveillance activities,” Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka said at the House of Representatives Security Committee.

When North Korea launched a ballistic missile in April 2009, it informed the International Maritime Organization in advance that it would set danger zones in the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean.

At that time, the Japanese and U.S. governments prepared themselves for the launch with the U.S. forces’ early warning satellites and the Defense Ministry’s warning and control radars. They also deployed Aegis-equipped destroyers in the Sea of Japan and the Air Self-Defense Force’s early-warning aircraft.

This time, the Japanese and U.S. governments are expected to prepare in a similar manner, according to officials.

North Korea announced the “satellite” will be launched southward from a launching station in Cholsan County, likely over open waters of the Yellow Sea and not into the Sea of Japan.

The Japanese government will nevertheless consider issuing the shootdown order as a precautionary measure.

“We never know whether the satellite will really fly toward the Yellow Sea. In addition, some of Japan’s remote islands are in the area,” a Defense Ministry official said.

 

[breeze]

North Korea is highly unpredictable and armed to the teeth. If Japan were to pull off a stunt like this it would make the perfect excuse for North Korea to unleash hell on Japan.

The Koreans will do to Japan what Japan did the Korea. Revenge will be sweet.

 

[WS-10 Engine]

i hope north korea drops nuclear bombs on those japs if japan shoots down the north korean rocket.

japs can smell the air of the 3rd nuke bomb dropped on their ***.

 

[no_name]

Japan is at a safe distance from NK.

 

[gambit]

North Korea is highly unpredictable and armed to the teeth. If Japan were to pull off a stunt like this it would make the perfect excuse for North Korea to unleash hell on Japan.

The Koreans will do to Japan what Japan did the Korea. Revenge will be sweet.

Too bad those teeth are loose from malnutrition, after all, in one generation, the North Koreans are noticeably shorter and less stout than their southern relatives.

 

[Developereo]

Why is the word satellite in quotes? Why isn't NK allowed to launch satellites?

 

[FairAndUnbiased]

If the intercept failed, it would be a major humiliation.

 

[gambit]

If the intercept failed, it would be a major humiliation.

No, it would not. Instead, it would show the rest of Asia that Japan is willing to act militarily to defend herself. Other smaller Asian countries who feared the aggressive China and the irrational North Korea will ally themselves to Japan. They know that such an act is technically difficult to develop by themselves, let alone to attempt by one of their neighbors. It is natural to have respect for those who try and fail than for those who stand by and do nothing in the face of a threat, falsely perceived or not.

 

[WS-10 Engine]

No, it would not. Instead, it would show the rest of Asia that Japan is willing to act militarily to defend herself. Other smaller Asian countries who feared the aggressive China and the irrational North Korea will ally themselves to Japan. They know that such an act is technically difficult to develop by themselves, let alone to attempt by one of their neighbors. It is natural to have respect for those who try and fail than for those who stand by and do nothing in the face of a threat, falsely perceived or not.

i wish north korea sent some agent orange to vietnam.
maybe some depleted uranium.

 

[gambit]

i wish north korea sent some agent orange to vietnam.
maybe some depleted uranium.

Wishing is not going to do a damn bit of any good, conscript reject.

 

[Sonyuke_Songpaisan]

i hope north korea drops nuclear bombs on those japs if japan shoots down the north korean rocket.

japs can smell the air of the 3rd nuke bomb dropped on their ***.

Yeah, Japanese are quite experienced in handling the nuclear thing, they have twice of experience yet.

 

[CarbonD]

we will unleash loads of yakuza and gundam on NK they will not have a chance

 

[Sugarcane]

The Japanese Defense Minister has ordered missile units to intercept North Korea’s rocket if it flies over Japan. Satellite imagery confirms North Korea is proceeding with its plans to launch the Unha-3 rocket despite growing international pressure.

*Japanese Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka issued the destroy order at a meeting of the country’s national security council on Friday. The Japanese military had been instructed earlier to intercept the Unha-3 rocket if it flies over the country’s territories.

According to a statement issued by the Defense Ministry, Japan intends to send armed destroyers to the Pacific and East China Sea, AP reports. The country plans to deploy mobile Patriot missile launchers to islands in Okinawa. An interceptor missile unit might also be installed in Tokyo.

North Korea is expected to launch the telecommunications satellite between April 14 and 16. The Japanese authorities fear that rocket stages could fall on its western territories, damaging property or even endangering lives.

The communist country’s neighbor, South Korea, also warned it will intercept the rocket’s parts if they fly over its territory. President of the Philippines Benigno Aquino III announced on Thursday that he is gravely concerned that debris from the rocket might fall on his country.

Experts say that the fresh satellite imagery from Tongchang-ri launch site proves that North Korea is proceeding with its plans to send the rocket despite widespread opposition from the international community.

The footage shows that the launch is “going ahead” and preparations seem to be “on schedule” for the planned launch dates, the Washington Post newspaper cited Joel Wit, an analyst from John Hopkins University, as saying.

Although the rocket itself is not visible in the pictures, the imagery does show trucks and fuel tanks outside buildings believed to be storing propellant for the rocket There is also a crew seen preparing the launch pad.

South Korean authorities announced on Sunday that North Korea had already transported the rocket’s main body to a building in Tongchang-ri. The first stage of the three-stage rocket is expected to be sent to the launch pad in the next two days.

Pyogyang insists the launch of the rocket is peaceful in nature and even invited foreign journalists to observe the process. The plan, however, was condemned by Russia, the USA, Japan, France and other countries, as it violates UN resolution 1874, which prohibits North Korea from conducting missile tests. The country’s opponents fear that the launches are part of North Korea’s efforts to build a long-range missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead.

Japan issues destroy order as NK rocket launch looms — RT

 

[KALKI]

This Chinese propped rogue regime of North Korea infamous for it's Nuclear and Missile Walmart must be reigned in.

 

[northeast]

This Chinese propped rogue regime of North Korea infamous for it's Nuclear and Missile Walmart must be reigned in.

NK is our dog,a mad one,hahahaha.