Your guide to the Nine Worlds, as brought to you by Ratatoskr, the squirrel who travels the length of Yggdrasil, the World Tree.

2.13.2003

Japan threatens force against N Korea



Japan has given a warning it would launch a pre-emptive military action against North Korea if it had firm evidence Pyongyang was planning a missile attack.

Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba said it would be "a self-defence measure" if North Korea was going to "resort to arms against Japan".

Mr Ishiba said it would be too late if a North Korean missile was already on its way.



[Erik says: For those of you who are not aware, while Japan's post-war constitution bans the country from possessing offensive capabilities, its Self-Defense Force "outstrips Britain's in total spending and manpower" (according to this incredibly exhaustive analysis by GlobalSecurity.org) and has assisted in global Peace-Keeping missions since the late 90s. This is not idle threat, and it could have serious repercussions on the Asian military situation. Gulp.]

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